How royal family use Queen Elizabeth’s $57m Lodge

Horse riding, golf and long walks. It’s a leisurely life for the royal family members who have use of Queen Elizabeth’s $57m Lodge.

Horse riding, golf and long walks. It’s a leisurely life for the royal family members who have use of Queen Elizabeth’s $57m Lodge.

Prince Andrew’s life has reportedly taken a dramatic turn since his trainwreck BBC interview.

Once a fixture at A-list parties and known for his high-profile lifestyle, the disgraced Duke of York, 64, spends most of his time shut away at the “crumbling” Royal Lodge in Windsor.

The Sun reports Andrew’s daughters are taking it in turns to check in on him.

Five years after his catastrophic Newsnight interview triggered the end to his public life, Andrew now leans on “protective” Princess Beatrice, 36, and Princess Eugenie, 34.

“The girls take the grandchildren to visit him most weekends,” a source tells HELLO!

“They are spending far more time with him now than they have done in recent years.

“They are quite close to their father; they seem to be quite protective towards him.”

The scandal-hit Prince – who shares his £30 million ($A57 million), 30-bedroom home with ex wife Sarah Ferguson – is said to have found solace in his grandkids.

He has been seen driving Sienna Mapelli-Mozzi – the three-year-old daughter of Beatrice and husband Edoardo Mapelli-Mozzi – around the Windsor Estate.

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Prince Andrew is said to spent most of his time at Royal Lodge. Picture: Eamonn McCormack/Getty Images

The $57 million Royal Lodge is located in Windsor – and is home to Prince Andrew and ex wife Sarah Ferguson

Andrew's daughters Princess Beatrice and Princess Eugenie are said to visit their father on weekends.

Andrew has also been helping his young granddaughter take the reins as she learns to ride horses, which is a popular hobby in the royal family.

Both Beatrice and Eugenie are also said to have invited friends over to the estate to go shooting in recent weeks.

When Andrew isn’t spending time with his grandkids, he plays golf and horserides himself in the grounds of Windsor Castle.

He also spends time with former wife Sarah, Duchess of York, and they walk their five Norfolk Terriers, and two Corgis, who used to belong to the late Queen Elizabeth II.

Andrew stepped back from public life in 2019, following being linked to American financier and child sex offender Jeffrey Epstein.

Royal author Robert Hardman told HELLO!’s Right Royal Podcast: “He’s got nothing else, he’s got no public life, he has no public role.

“He is clearly devoted to this home and he likes being there, so if he can make it work, he’s going to try.”

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Prince Andrew has been seen driving Sienna Mapelli-Mozzi – the three-year-old daughter of Beatrice and husband Edoardo Mapelli-Mozzi – around the Windsor Estate. Picture: Instagram/edoardomapellimozzo

Royal Lodge was where the late Queen Elizabeth spent part of her childhood and boasts 40 hectares of woodland and lawns, eight cottages, and lodgings for security personnel.

King Charles, 75, is said to have wanted Andrew out of the house for years.

But Andrew, who moved into Royal Lodge in 2004 – has refused to move, after taking on a lease that lasts until 2078.

The monarch urged him to follow the late Queen’s plan and move out of the 30-bed mansion and into nearby Frogmore Cottage, the former home of Prince Harry and Meghan Markle.

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Royal Lodge is said to be ‘crumbling’ and in need of repairs.

King Charles is reportedly struggling to boot his scandal-hit brother from the plush property. Picture: Max Mumby/Indigo/Getty Images

Earlier this month, Charles cut Andrew’s annual personal allowance — reported to be around $2 million — which funded guards at Windsor’s Royal Lodge.

But Andrew has now convinced Palace authorities he has sufficient funds to support himself, including security costing £3 million ($A5.8 million) annually and repairing the 19th century Grade II listed property at around £400,000 ($A776,000) a year.

His plan is believed to be bankrolled by Middle East money.

Parts of this story first appeared in The Sun and were republished with permission.

Originally published as How royal family use Queen Elizabeth’s $57m Lodge