Prince Andrew’s past is ‘catching up with him’, the co-author of Virginia Giuffre‘s memoir has said as the King considers paying him £500,000 to move out of the Royal Lodge in Windsor.
The King’s brother is in talks about leaving the 30-room Grade II listed mansion voluntarily following public outcry over his ‘peppercorn’ rent, but is reluctant to give up his residence of more than 20 years.
The sticking points in the talks are said to be the location of his new home, with him wanting to remain close to his daughters Beatrice and Eugenie, who live in London, and financial compensation for funds spent renovating the lodge.
Buckingham Palace is said to be ‘trying to crank up the pressure’ on the prince to voluntarily move out, with sources saying it is a case of ‘when, not if’ Andrew goes, having finally accepted the inevitable, despite still having 50 years to run on his lease.
Andrew gave up the Duke of York title and other honours last Friday ahead of the publication of Ms Giuffre’s posthumous memoir, following allegations he sexually abused her.
The book’s co-author Amy Wallace has said Andrew’s behaviour is finally coming back at him and that Ms Giuffre wanted ‘wealthy, powerful men to be held to account’.
In an interview with the Associated Press, she said: ‘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’.
King Charles (right) could pay Prince Andrew (left) up to £558,000 out of his own pocket to leave Royal Lodge
Virginia Giuffre photographed with Prince Andrew and Ghislaine Maxwell in London in 2001
Ms Giuffre’s co-author Amy Wallace has said Andrew’s behaviour is finally coming back at him and that Ms Giuffre wanted ‘wealthy, powerful men to be held to account’
Ms Wallace said Andrew could still come forward about what he knew about the late paedophile financier Jeffrey Epstein and help victims of sexual abuse.
‘He still denies what is in this book, we should say. But it’s not too late,’ she said.
‘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 prince, who strenuously denies the allegations from Ms Giuffre, has been hit by fresh criticism focused on his property, with some MPs eager to debate the issue in Parliament.
He has been embroiled in fresh scandal in recent weeks after it emerged he had kept in contact with convicted paedophile Jeffrey Epstein longer than he previously admitted to.
Andrew has also been caught up in an ongoing row concerning his association alleged Chinese spies.
It comes amid claims a 2011 attempt by Ms Giuffre to serve a civil suit on Andrew was allegedly frustrated by Metropolitan Police officers.
The disgraced ex-Duke of York is in talks about quitting his 30-room Grade II listed mansion (pictured) on the Windsor Estate
Andrew has been embroiled in fresh scandal in recent weeks after it emerged he had kept in contact with convicted paedophile Jeffrey Epstein longer than he previously admitted to
In a statement on Friday 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 Met previously said it was looking into allegations after the Mail On Sunday revealed Andrew passed Ms Giuffre’s date of birth and social security number to his taxpayer-funded bodyguard in 2011 and asked him to investigate her.
Obstacles to reaching a settlement are reportedly where Andrew, eighth in line to the throne, will live and what financial recompense he will receive for the funds he spent renovating the home.
There are likely properties on the King’s private Balmoral estate in Scotland and his Sandringham estate in Norfolk that could house Andrew but whether he will accept a smaller home far from his supportive daughters remains to be seen.
The King has long been said to have tried to encourage his younger brother, who lives in Royal Lodge with his ex-wife Sarah Ferguson, to move out, but Andrew signed a watertight 75-year lease on the property in 2003.
Andrew’s leasehold agreement, seen by the PA news agency, revealed he paid £1 million for the lease and that since then he paid ‘one peppercorn’ of rent ‘if demanded’ per year.
He was also required to pay a further £7.5 million for refurbishments completed in 2005, according to a report by the National Audit Office.
The agreement also contains a clause that states the Crown Estate would have to pay Andrew around £558,000 if he gave up the lease.
There have been claims the prince’s ‘peppercorn’ rent on the Crown Estate property in Windsor Great Park was concealed in a redacted version of his lease submitted to the Land Registry more than 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 died by suicide in April, alleged she was forced to have sex three times with Andrew, which he vehemently denies, including when she was 17 and also during an orgy, after she was trafficked by Epstein.
Andrew paid a reported £12 million to settle a civil sexual assault case with her in 2022, despite insisting he had never met her.
Downing Street, meanwhile, said 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.
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