And there are every signs, says Richard Eden, that Prince Andrew will continue to live in his home of 30 years, even if his older brother King Charles wants to move him out – and move the Waleses in!
But in the latest edition of his Palace Confidential newsletter, Eden says this could be good news for William, who already lives in three houses at once, including the ten-bedroom Kensington Palace and Anmer Hall.
Prince Andrew has fought a rearguard action to stay in his home for 30 years – despite apparently not having the means to pay for its upkeep
Royal Lodge in Windsor Great Park is the former home of the Queen Mother
The Duke has been forced to step back from his royal duties since his alleged involvement in the Epstein scandal – which he denies
The king wants Prince William to move into the 30-room Royal Lodge and replace his uncle Andrew. But would that be a good look for William, Richard Eden wonders?
“In my opinion, Andrew may have done his cousin, Prince William, a favor with his stubbornness,” he wrote.
‘A friend of the Yorks tells me: ‘I don’t know why the King thought it would seem better for William and Catherine to have Royal Lodge, in addition to all their other possessions, than for the Duke and Duchess to remain there.’
The Prince and Princess of Wales were expected to move their growing family into Royal Lodge in the coming months after expensive renovations were carried out.
But as Eden explains, “when King Charles demanded his brother Prince Andrew move out earlier this year, it was never going to end well.”
After all, the Duke of York paid £1 million for a 75-year lease on the Queen Mother’s sprawling Grade II listed country home in 2003 and has since spent more than £7.5 million on extensive renovation work.
It is also home to his ex-wife, Sarah, Duchess of York.
“The suggestion that the couple could move to a smaller property on the Windsor estate, such as the house from which the Duke and Duchess of Sussex were evicted, Frogmore Cottage, rubbed salt in their wounds,” he wrote.
‘Now, however, Andrew appears to have won the power struggle with his older brother.’
This week it was reported that the King had given Andrew permission to stay ‘indefinitely’ at the 30-room Royal Lodge, which is set on 98 hectares of land in Windsor Great Park, after they ‘arranged a new deal’.
Richard Eden believes William and Kate may have dodged a bullet
The Prince and Princess of Wales already live at Kensington Palace, pictured, Anmer Hall and Adelaide Cottage
It has been reported that the King has accepted that Andrew will remain at Royal Lodge for the time being
William and Kate certainly have no shortage of homes.
They currently live in the four-bedroom Adelaide Cottage in Windsor.
They also own Apartment 1A at Kensington Palace, a 20-room property that was renovated in 2013 with £4.5 million of taxpayers’ money.
They also own Anmer Hall, a ten-bedroom country house on the Sandringham Estate.
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