Prince Andrew is reportedly facing eviction from his brother, King Charles III, after failing to pay the annual $503,000 upkeep for his $37 million Royal Lodge mansion. The Duke of York is allegedly unable to keep up with the expenses to maintain the property, which is owned by the monarch’s estate. Royal expert Ian Pelham Turner claimed that the king is finding it challenging to issue an eviction notice to his disgraced sibling, who is fighting to remain a senior royal.
The Royal Lodge is facing dampness issues and wear and tear, with cracks in the brickwork, peeling paint, and falling plaster. King Charles III allegedly demanded that Prince Andrew vacate the property and move to Frogmore Cottage instead. However, Andrew is reportedly reluctant to accept this downgrade. Former Prince Charles became king upon the death of Queen Elizabeth II and has been pressuring Andrew to move into more modest quarters.
Prince Andrew stepped back from royal duties in 2019 due to his involvement with Jeffrey Epstein, a convicted sex offender. He was stripped of his honorary military titles, and the queen removed his royal patronages and barred him from using the title “his royal highness.” The king allegedly promised his mother that he would look after Andrew, but there are calls for Andrew to lose his titles as well.
The duke reached a settlement with Epstein accuser Virginia Roberts Giuffre and made a donation to her charity. He denied having sex with Giuffre and had his annual allowance reduced in 2023. Andrew’s main source of income is his Navy pension and an inheritance from his late parents. There are rumors of the king threatening to evict Andrew due to his financial struggles and the condition of the Royal Lodge.
Though the king is reportedly reluctant to evict his brother, there is pressure for Andrew to move into Frogmore Cottage. However, there will always be a place for him as long as he stays out of trouble. Several experts claim that the late Queen Elizabeth II remained close to Andrew and believed in his innocence regarding the Epstein allegations. The duke maintains his title as the Duke of York and his place in the line of succession.
Andrew was implicated in previously sealed court documents related to Epstein’s case, but he has denied any wrongdoing. The settlement he reached with Giuffre was estimated to be between $3.6 million to $14.8 million. The records revealed Epstein’s connections to influential figures accused of misconduct. Despite his controversies, Andrew remains part of the British royal family, dealing with financial and legal challenges while navigating his royal status.
