Prince Andrew is reportedly in discussions about leaving his home but is ‘reluctant’
The co-author of Virginia Giuffre’s memoirs has suggested that Prince Andrew’s past actions are “catching up with him” as he is reportedly considering leaving his Royal Lodge home.
The King’s brother is said to be in talks with Charles’ representatives about leaving Royal Lodge voluntarily following the furore over the “peppercorn” rent for his 30-room mansion, but is reluctant to give up his residence of more than 20 years.
The Daily Telegraph said the sticking points in the talks are the location of his new home and financial compensation for funds spent on the lodge.
Last Friday, ahead of the release of Ms Giuffre’s posthumous memoir, Andrew relinquished his Duke of York title and other honours amidst allegations of sexual abuse.
Amy Wallace, the book’s co-author, stated that Ms Giuffre sought to hold “wealthy, powerful men to account”.
In a conversation with the Associated Press, she remarked: “What we’re watching is Prince Andrew’s life is being eroded for his past behaviour.
“While he’s not being tried in a court of law, his behaviour’s catching up with him”.
Ms Wallace suggested that Andrew could still reveal what he knew about the late paedophile financier Jeffrey Epstein and assist victims of sexual abuse.
“He still denies what is in this book, we should say. But it’s not too late,” she added.
“He could continue to leave aside the things he’s accused of with Virginia. He could still come forward. He was in those houses, he was on the island, he was in the private jet numerous times.
“He could still come forward and say to the authorities, I want to validate these women’s experience.”
The Duke, who vehemently refutes the claims made by Ms Giuffre, has faced renewed condemnation regarding his residence, with several MPs keen to raise the matter in Parliament.
The Telegraph revealed that discussions between Andrew and the King’s advisers have been taking place since the complete disclosure of the Duke’s tenancy deal on his Berkshire property led to fierce public examination.
The newspaper said Andrew was resistant but there was a sense of inevitability about the prince, believed to be Queen Elizabeth II’s favourite child, giving up his home.
This follows allegations that a 2011 effort by Ms Giuffre to deliver legal papers to Andrew was purportedly hindered by Metropolitan Police constables, initially disclosed by Channel 4 News, which reported the force has expanded its investigations.
In a Friday statement, the force said: “Following recent media reporting on the actions of officers in relation to this matter, we are considering whether any further assessment or review is necessary.”
The Metropolitan Police previously stated that it was investigating allegations after the Mail On Sunday alleged that Andrew had passed Ms Giuffre’s date of birth and social security number to his taxpayer-funded bodyguard in 2011, requesting him to investigate.
Reportedly, the hurdles to reaching a settlement are where Andrew, who is eighth in line to the throne, will live and what financial compensation he will receive for the funds he expended on home renovations.
Potential properties on the King’s private Balmoral estate in Scotland and his Sandringham estate in Norfolk could accommodate Andrew, but whether he would accept a smaller home far from his daughters remains uncertain.
It has long been suggested that the King has attempted to persuade his younger brother, who lives in Royal Lodge with his ex-wife Sarah Ferguson, to relocate, but Andrew signed a solid 75-year lease on the property in 2003.
Andrew’s leasehold agreement, viewed by the PA news agency, disclosed that he paid £1m for the lease and that since then he has paid “one peppercorn” of rent “if demanded” per annum.
He was also obligated to pay an additional £7.5m for refurbishments completed in 2005, according to a report by the National Audit Office.
The agreement also includes a clause stating that the Crown Estate would have to pay Andrew approximately £558,000 if he surrendered the lease.
There have been allegations that the prince’s “peppercorn” rent on the Crown Estate property in Windsor Great Park was hidden in a redacted version of his lease submitted to the Land Registry over 20 years ago.
The Public Accounts Committee has already confirmed it is writing to the Crown Estate and the Treasury asking for further information about the prince’s lease.
Ms Giuffre, who tragically took her own life in April, claimed she was forced to have sex three times with Andrew, which he strongly denies, including when she was 17 and also during an orgy, after she was trafficked by Epstein.
Despite maintaining that he had never met her, Andrew paid millions to settle a civil sexual assault case with her in 2022.
Downing Street has stated that MPs will not be given time in the House of Commons to discuss Andrew’s conduct because the Royal family wants Parliament to focus on “important issues”.
Number 10 said it would not allocate time for a debate in the chamber although MPs could still scrutinise the situation in committees.
‘ The preceding article may include information circulated by third parties ’
‘ Some details of this article were extracted from the following source www.manchestereveningnews.co.uk ’
