Prince Andrew appears pensive while riding in Windsor – weeks after reports claim King Charles ‘threatened to sever all ties’ if disgraced Duke refuses to leave Royal Lodge and move to Frogmore Cottage

Prince Andrew appeared pensive as he was spotted horse riding at Windsor Park today.

The Duke of York, who is often seen on horseback, is said to be enjoying the surroundings of his residence.

During the outing, he wore a navy blue shirt and dark pants, which he paired with riding boots, a helmet and sunglasses.

The 64-year-old brother of King Charles, who no longer holds official royal duties after stepping back following the Jeffrey Epstein scandal, was arrested while riding a horse and driving his car.

According to a friend of the King, the news comes weeks after it was reported that the monarch threatened to cut ties with his brother if the disgraced Duke refused to leave Royal Lodge and move to his new home at Frogmore Cottage.

It is believed that the Duke (pictured) enjoys riding around the grounds, and does so quite regularly

Charles has reportedly been trying for a long time to get his brother, who has no apparent source of income, to leave the Windsor mansion amid rumours that The Prince of Wales is keen to move into the estate to emphasise his role as heir to the throne.

While sources close to the King say he is prepared to pay for a comfortable life for his brother from his private Duchy of Lancaster money, the level of funding must be appropriate.

A friend of the king told The times: ‘Unfortunately, if Andrew refuses to leave within a reasonable time, the King may be forced to reassess the entire package of support he is offering. The Duke will then have to pay for the majority of his own security, accommodation and living expenses. Given the sums involved, this is highly unlikely to be possible in the long term.’

They added that while ‘everyone is aware of [Andrew’s] Having ‘welfare’ and ‘one’s best interests in mind’, there are ‘limits to patience and tolerance’.

The Royal Lodge is situated in the heart of Windsor Park, three miles south of Windsor Castle and is part of the Crown Estate.

Andrew first moved into the large country house in 2004 and now lives there with his ex-wife Sarah.

He signed a 75-year lease, paying £250 a week and agreeing to maintain the vast estate.

However, last year, claims emerged that Andrew was unable to pay the annual maintenance costs of Royal Lodge, which is estimated to be worth £30 million, with the Duke reportedly being told he would have to leave the estate.

The royal was also photographed behind the wheel of his Range Rover, with an expression that suggested he was deep in thought

In October it was reported that he had been granted a stay of execution after striking a deal with the king to carry out repair work on the 19th-century listed building.

But the state of the mansion’s exterior has now come to light, with photos showing that there is still some work to be done, potentially sparking another row.

One of the conditions of this alleged deal with his older brother was that he would carry out repairs to the 19th-century listed house, but these repairs do not appear to have been carried out.

It has been reported that Andrew, who was forced to step down from royal duties amid the Jeffrey Epstein scandal, could face cuts to his £249,000 royal allowance, making it harder for the Duke to keep his promises.

He reportedly told friends that such a drastic change in his finances would mean he would not be able to cover the costs of the estate.

Prince Andrew’s outing comes just weeks after it was claimed King Charles threatened to ‘sever’ ties with his younger brother if he refused to leave the Royal Lodge

Last year the Mail reported that the King had offered his younger brother a more modest home, but Andrew is said to have seen this as too much of a ‘demotion’.

Andrew would save a lot if he moved to Frogmore Cottage. Friends of the King said that he would continue to pay for mobile security, but that he would no longer have to install static security for the building.

People familiar with Frogmore Cottage, once home to the Duke and Duchess of Sussex, say it is in good condition thanks to work carried out by Harry and Meghan before moving to the US.

Despite his possible financial worries, sources close to the duke said in January: ‘Andrew is not going anywhere. He has a rock-solid lease.’

After the King continued to try to have Andrew expelled from the Royal Lodge, a friend of Charles said: ‘As things stand, life at the Royal Lodge will become increasingly cold and uncomfortable for the Duke.’