If the King agrees to Prince Andrew’s demand of two royal properties in exchange for finally leaving the lavish Royal Lodge where he currently resides, it would be a “serious mistake”, it’s been warned.
According to The Sun, Andrew has now issued an ultimatum to his brother and royal aides regarding his living arrangements as pressure mounts for him to downgrade amid outrage over his ties to convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein.
Andrew is reportedly demanding the use of two nearby Windsor royal properties: Adelaide Cottage, which is about to be vacated by Prince William and Kate, and Prince Harry and Meghan’s former UK base, Frogmore Cottage.
It’s understood that he and ex-wife Sarah Ferguson – who have lived together since 2008 – want two properties as they are planning to now live apart.
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The demand, as former BBC royal correspondent Jennie Bond told The Mirror, “beggars belief”.
“I think it would be a serious mistake if the King and the Palace agreed to such a brazen demand,” she said.
“You have to ask yourself whether Andrew and Sarah are completely deaf to public opinion. “There is genuine outrage from the public and, indeed several prominent members of parliament about the fact that they have lied about their friendship with Jeffrey Epstein.
“And yet they seem to think they are entitled to not just one, but two, magnificent homes in the extremely royal surroundings of Windsor Great Park, almost in the shadow of the Castle itself.
“It is an audacious demand — and one that the Palace should outright reject. Andrew and Sarah are grown-ups with their own money and resources. They should be made to fend for themselves and not rely on the King and the goodwill of the Crown Estate.”
Andrew has lived at the 30-room Windsor Great Park home since 2004, and he has a lease which could technically keep them there until 2078.
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It’s been widely reported for some time that the King and Prince William have been trying to persuade him to leave – and according to a friend, he now finally realises the “writing is on the wall” and his time there is up.
“No one is really sure how it’s going to go down at the Palace yet,” a source close to Andrew told The Sun.
“Andy is willing to leave, but these are his demands.
“Sarah and Andy have lived together at Royal Lodge since 2008 despite being divorced and seen like they are still a married couple.
“It’s incredible that they are willing to go their own separate ways.
“But it indicates that they have been under immense strain this year and need a break from one another. It’s a fresh start for both.
“Frogmore Cottage is too small for both and Adelaide Cottage is around the corner so they will see each other whenever they want.”
The reported ultimatum is a significant development in the ongoing housing standoff between Andrew and the King. Last year, it emerged that Charles had cut off his brother’s personal annual allowance in what was seen as an attempt to squeeze him out of Royal Lodge.
Andrew has not paid rent on the property for two decades, and has a “cast-iron” lease that could technically see him stay there until 2078.
UK newspaper The Times recently published a copy of the leasehold agreement for the sprawling home, which showed that the disgraced prince forked out £1 million ($2.06 million) for the lease and approximately £7.5 million (A$15.4 million) for refurbishments in 2005 – but since 2003, has paid “one peppercorn (if demanded)” in rent.
According to the publication, the terms of the lease also include a clause which means that the Crown Estate – which manages the royal properties – would need to pay Andrew around a million dollars if he has to give up the lease, and he’d also receive a “compensatory sum” of £185,865 (A$383,286) annually until 2028.
The scandal surrounding Andrew reintensified this month as a result of a leaked email from Andrew to Epstein, weeks after the date he’d declared they’d cut off all contact with each other.
The new leaked email also coincided with the release Virginia Giuffre’s posthumous memoir, Nobody’s Girl, in which she detailed her alleged sexual encounters with Andrew, one of which she claimed happened when she was just 17 years old. Andrew has vehemently denied all wrongdoing.
As public pressure intensified earlier this month, Andrew released a bombshell statement via the Palace announcing he was giving up the use of his “Duke of York” title in order to no longer “distract” from the important work of the monarchy.
‘ The preceding article may include information circulated by third parties ’
‘ Some details of this article were extracted from the following source www.news.com.au ’
