Prince Andrew: Royal faces being kicked out of 31-bedroom Royal Lodge mansion
Prince Andrew now faces the further humiliating prospect of being kicked out of his 31-bedroom mansion and losing his police protection.
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Prince Andrew now faces the further humiliating prospect of being kicked out of his 31-bedroom Georgian mansion and losing his police protection.
In 2003, he signed a 75-year lease at Royal Lodge for a one-off fee of £1 million ($1.88 million) to the Crown Estate — the equivalent of around £250 a week ($470).
The Sun reports that Andrew has spent £7.5 million ($14.1 million) refurbishing the property, including the addition of an indoor swimming pool. Royal Lodge, which would be worth at least £30 million ($56.4 million) on the open market, is five kilometres from Windsor Castle and was the Queen Mother’s old home.
Andrew’s former wife Sarah Ferguson is also living in the mansion although the couple are believed to have separate wings. If he is booted out, the prince could move into Harry and Meghan’s old residence at Frogmore Cottage, as their lease runs out in April.
His downgrading could also mean he loses his 24-hour police protection — and must pay for security himself.
The Duke of York's accuser wants to be "vindicated" by the legal process and is not motivated by reaching a "purely financial settlement", her lawyer has said.
One of the few options open to Andrew is to try and reach an out-of-court settlement with Virginia Giuffre after a US judge ruled her allegation of sexual assault against him can be heard at a civil trial.
But a suggestion by David Boies, Ms Giuffre's lawyer, that money alone would not satisfy his client may indicate she may want her day in court or some admission from the duke or acknowledgment of her position.
Mr Boies told BBC Newsnight: "I think it's very important to Virginia Giuffre that this matter be resolved in a way that vindicates her and vindicates the other victims.
“I don't think she has a firm view at this point, or could she, as to exactly what a solution should be. But I think what's going to be important is that this resolution vindicates her and vindicates the claim she has made. A purely financial settlement is not anything that I think she's interested in.”
It comes as Andrew was sensationally stripped of his military & HRH honours by the Queen amid his sex assault scandal.
The bombshell news was announced by Buckingham Palace on Thursday evening – just days after a US judge ruled the abuse claims against him should go to trial. Ms Giuffre claims she was forced to have sex with the Duke of York three times back in 2001 – and Prince Andrew strongly denies any wrongdoing and even says he has never met Ms Giuffre.
This article originally appeared in The Sun and was reproduced with permission
Originally published as Prince Andrew: Royal faces being kicked out of 31-bedroom Royal Lodge mansion
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