Why Beatrice and Eugenie Are Secretly Thrilled They Won’t Inherit $57M Royal Lodge From Andrew
Turns out losing Royal Lodge is a win, Beatrice and Eugenie avoid a costly fixer-upper and a whole lot of royal drama
Princess Beatrice and Princess Eugenie are under intense scrutiny after their father, ex-Prince Andrew, was linked to Jeffrey Epstein. His connection to the convicted financier resurfaced, and the situation has affected the York sisters greatly. However, it seems they are not worried about their father losing the Royal Lodge. Not inheriting the multimillion-pound estate is a blessing in disguise for the siblings, and they are quietly breathing a sigh of relief.
Both sisters have stepped away from the limelight following the scandal involving their parents, Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor and Sarah Ferguson. The drama has also put a spotlight on Royal Lodge, the 31-room Windsor home, which their father had been leasing from the Crown Estate under a 2003 deal. That basically meant it could not be sold or passed around outside his immediate family. But after Mountbatten-Windsor gave up the lease, Beatrice and Eugenie lost their only chance at inheriting the estate, estimated at around $40 million.
However, a source told OK! Magazine that the York sisters are glad they no longer have access to the Royal Lodge. “Royal Lodge is not just a prestigious property – it comes with substantial upkeep costs, ongoing maintenance issues and a level of responsibility that would have been incredibly demanding. In many ways, not having to take that on has removed a considerable burden from their lives,” the source explained. According to Robin Edwards, a property agent at Curetons, maintaining Royal Lodge "would require a substantial financial commitment each year." Speaking to Marie Claire, Edwards estimated that those costs fall "in the range of £4 million to £5 million" ($5.3 to $6.7 million)
The insider also added that being linked to a place like Royal Lodge right now would have just added more stress for Beatrice and Eugenie, especially with Mountbatten-Windsor still facing intense public scrutiny. Walking away from it has actually worked in their favor, keeping them from getting dragged further into the drama and helping them avoid extra pressure on both their image and personal lives.
Royal Lodge has not exactly been in great shape for a while, with maintenance reportedly falling behind in recent years, according to the source. “The Grade II-listed Royal Lodge has long required extensive upkeep, with reports suggesting maintenance had fallen behind in recent years. The state of the property and the extent of the restoration work required would have meant committing to significant, and potentially unpredictable, financial outlay over the long term,” they added.
So instead of just inheriting a house, Beatrice and Eugenie would have been signing up for a long-term responsibility that could get overwhelming fast. The insider explained, “Given the current circumstances, any close association with such a high-profile estate would likely have intensified public attention at a time when they are actively trying to step back and maintain a lower profile, making the prospect even more challenging.”
Recently, it has also been reported that the York sisters will not be attending the Easter celebrations alongside the royal family due to the highly publicized scandal involving their father, the former Prince. The decision to keep the sisters at a distance was made so that they would not attract unwanted attention to the family. They are said to have lined up their own plans instead, with King Charles III reportedly backing their choice.
