Queen’s $57m mansion in limbo

Queen Elizabeth’s former home is reportedly in limbo after a deal to save the crumbling mansion fell apart.

Royal Lodge

Prince Andrew could be facing eviction from his home at Royal Lodge after his lucrative business deal is reportedly falling apart.

Last month, the disgraced Duke of York inked a deal with Dutch-based firm Startupbootcamp (SBC) that promised to pay him millions in exchange for his connections from the Pitch@Palace initiative, the New York Post reports.

The 65-year-old’s joint venture with SBC marked the first known work he’s undertaken since stepping down as a working member of the Firm in 2020.

However, sources close to the start-up have told BBC News that weeks after the former working royal joined the team, nothing has been signed and no transactions have taken place.

Andrew was due to receive a cut for each deal Startupbootcamp made across global territories, as per the agreement.

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Prince Andrew is experiencing a setback just one month after signing a lucrative new business deal. Picture: Toby Melville – WPA Pool/Getty Images

The Duke of York's Royal Lodge where he has lived since 2004.

Kauan von Novack, CEO of Startupbootcamp, even spoke out about the partnership with the scandal-scarred royal, saying the company’s mission “is to help entrepreneurs to create the change the world needs.”

“We see immense value in the network built up by Pitch@Palace,” he added at the time.

There’s been no word from Andrew about the ambitious business venture.

Royal Lodge has been in royal hands for nearly a century. Its walls witnessed Queen Elizabeth II’s childhood as a young princess — and after her father King George VI’s death, the Queen Mother continued to live there until 2002.

The duke moved into the $57 million mansion in 2004 after taking on a lease that lasts until 2078. He currently resides there with his ex-wife, Sarah Ferguson.

The scandal-hit prince has been doing all he can to remain at the Royal Lodge since his brother, King Charles, expressed a strong desire to downsize him into a smaller property.

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 residence of Prince Harry and Meghan Markle.

Last year, Andrew was on the brink of eviction — but nonetheless refused to move into the smaller home.

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King Charles expressed a strong desire to downsize Andrew into a smaller property. Picture: Max Mumby/Indigo/Getty Images

The King has urged his scandal-hit sibling to relocate to Frogmore Cottage. Picture: Leon Neal/Getty Images

The monarch urged him to follow the late Queen’s plan and move out of the 30-bed mansion. Picture: Mark Cuthbert/UK Press via Getty Images

Despite being poised to leave the royal digs after Charles refused to continue financially carrying his brother’s weight, Andrew managed to find a mystery financial backer at the eleventh hour.

The new gig was said to have been a financial lifeline that could have provided him with a much-needed cash boost.

However, it’s now been thrust into doubt given that no transactions have taken place.

It comes as Andrew had taken up household chores in a desperate bid to pinch a few pennies around Royal Lodge, given its “shocking” current state.

Parts of this story first appeared in the New York Post and was republished with permission.

Originally published as Queen’s $57m mansion in limbo