King Charles’ Prince Andrew headache worsens: ‘Increasingly impatient’

Just months after reports the brothers had struck a deal to end their tense stand-off, awkward new details have emerged.

Eighteen months after it was first reported that King Charles had been unsuccessfully attempting to evict his disgraced brother from the sprawling Royal Lodge, the situation has reportedly now deteriorated even further.

Prince Andrew, who has lived in the 30-room mansion within the Crown Estate in Windsor since 2004, is said to be digging in his heels and creating a stand-off as the monarch increases his efforts to remove him.

The housing debacle has reportedly been dubbed by insiders as the “siege of Royal Lodge”, according to the UK’s Times.

The Duke of York, who was forced back from official duties in 2020 over his ties to convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein, is reportedly unable to afford the more than $750,000 annual cost of upkeep for the “crumbling” Lodge, which is understood to be falling into disrepair.

Prince Andrew wants to stay put. Picture: Justin Tallis/AFP

King Charles has been attempting to negotiate with his brother. Picture: Leon Neal/Getty Images

Palace sources recently claimed that the King – who is funding Andrew’s post-royal life – could “reconsider the levels of support he is willing to provide” if his younger brother continues to refuse his offers of new lodgings.

But according to royal author Christopher Anderson, the duke is standing firm.

“Andrew’s holding on by his fingertips right now, perhaps hoping that one of his wealthy friends might kick in some funds,” he told Fox News.

“But it’s highly doubtful that would work. King Charles III is becoming increasingly impatient and wants to simultaneously punish his brother, show everyone who’s boss and restore Royal Lodge to its former glory.”

The update comes just days after the Times confirmed that the King had upped the ante in his bid to force Andrew to move, preferably to the nearby Frogmore Cottage, the former home of Prince Harry and Meghan Markle.

Harry and Meghan’s former home, Frogmore Cottage, featured i their docu-series. Picture: Netflix

The complex stand-off between the brothers is worsened by the fact that Andrew does in fact still hold the 75-year lease on the property – but Charles controls the purse strings.

“As things stand, life at Royal Lodge is set to become increasingly cold and uncomfortable for the duke,” a source told the publication.

“The only question now is when he will realise that he has become a prisoner of his own pride – and that handing back the keys will afford him far greater comfort, and the continued support of his family.”

Undated picture of The Royal Lodge.

Last October, it was reported that Charles and Andrew had struck an unexpected deal regarding housing, with the disgraced duke given a “stay of execution” on his potential eviction.

According to the UK’s Mirror, during a private meeting at Balmoral, Andrew successfully pleaded for the King to grant him more time to prove he can come up with the necessary funds to pay for the desperately-needed repairs on the large property.

The Lodge reportedly requires an estimated £2 million (A$3.8 million) total in restorations – and the publication reports that Andrew had already spent $380,000 on roof repairs as an “interim payment”.

For many years, Andrew’s living arrangement was made possible by an annual subsidy of around $500,000, paid to Andrew out of his late mother’s private estate – a system which ended in April 2023 under Charles’ rule.

Originally published as King Charles’ Prince Andrew headache worsens: ‘Increasingly impatient’