Fergie’s move to save ex-husband Prince Andrew’s $52m Royal Lodge mansion

As Prince Andrew’s property war heats up, ex-wife Sarah Ferguson is believed to have made a surprise offer. But there’s one big problem.

OPINION

Prince Andrew appears to have emerged victorious in his relentless battle to stay put in his lavish $52 million mansion — for now.

The Duke of York, according to reports, has been granted a stay of execution after thrashing out a deal with King Charles to remain in his sprawling Royal Lodge residence during a tense summit at Balmoral Castle during the royal family’s recent summer break.

His ex-wife Sarah Ferguson has even offered to stump up the cash for repairs on the costly home, it has now emerged.

Prince Andrew leaves last year’s Christmas Day service at St Mary Magdalene Church in Sandringham. Picture: AFP

But despite the apparent truce and in a sign of the complexity of the King’s turbulent relationship with his exiled brother, it has emerged that the monarch privately believes that the newly sealed Windsor mansion deal is not for the long term.

The main sticking point is Prince Andrew’s lack of cash flow and what that means for the costly upkeep of the grand mansion, which used to be the home of the Queen Mother.

King Charles with Prince Andrew in 2015, before scandal forced the Duke of York to step down from royal duties. Picture: AFP

Most of the Duke’s wealth is tied up in assets and his earning power took a devastating hit after he was forced from public life in 2019 due to his former friendship with the late pedophile financier Jeffery Epstein.

In a last-ditch bid to hang on to his luxury mansion, where he lives with his former wife Sarah Ferguson in the most amicable post-split arrangement in royal history, the Duke has forked out over $350,000 for roof repairs.

The devoted Fergie is even prepared to help fund $3.8 million of the repairs in a bid to keep a roof over her former husband’s head, The Mirror reports.

But with a long-term lack of cash due to being stripped of his military and royal titles, how long will Prince Andrew be able to afford the Royal Lodge money pit?

Prince Andrew and ex-wife Sarah Ferguson live together at Royal Lodge. Picture: Getty Images

Prince Andrew and Prince Harry at King Charles’s coronation. Picture: AFP

Once known as “Air Miles Andy” for his wild spending, close links with controversial businessmen and love of chartering helicopters for short journeys, the 63-year-old is not exactly raking in the moolah these days.

Prince Andrew’s reputation was irreparably tarnished by his 2019 car-crash BBC TV interview filmed inside Buckingham Palace, where he tried to defend himself against Virginia Giuffre’s allegations of sexual assault.

Prince Andrew was once dubbed “Air Miles Andy” for his love of travel and luxury jaunts. Picture: AP

The Duke of York during his disastrous BBC interview. Picture: BBC

The Duke of York, who has always vehemently denied Ms Giuffre’s allegations, later agreed on a multimillion-dollar settlement with his Australian-based accuser, which the Queen is said to have paid.

Prince William has long considered his uncle to be a liability and threat to the royal family’s standing.

But the Duke of York’s ongoing war with King Charles over his luxury living arrangements has shown that the disgraced royal is determined to hang on to the last vestiges of his former life.

He may have been banished from public duties but the stubborn royal is clearly not going down without a fight and has no intention of retiring quietly into the shadows any time soon.

In his book Traitor King, royal author Andrew Lownie claims the Duke has been filling his lonely days by “playing golf, watching videos and trying to make money”.

Which is something he will need endless supplies of if he is to hang on to his life of luxury and avoid permanent eviction for good.