He gave up a royal title, and soon, Prince Andrew might be doing the same with his home.
Earlier this month, the disgraced brother of King Charles announced he would stop using the title Duke of York. He and his ex-wife, Sarah Ferguson, have been marred in controversy because of their prior association with the late Jeffrey Epstein, a convicted sex offender.
It appears the royal family are trying to save face. They are reportedly encouraging him and Sarah to find somewhere else to live.
Prince Andrew is in talks to give up his royal residence
Despite his tarnished reputation and renouncing his royal duties, Andrew still lives in his renowned home, at least for now.
His time at the Royal Lodge in Windsor Great Park could soon come to an end. The Telegraph reports that the Prince and King Charles’ representatives are in advanced negotiations for him to depart that residence.
Buckingham officials are urging him to leave on his own accord. Because of the terms of the lease, they cannot legally evict him, so him leaving voluntarily is the only way he could be out of that home. The Prince has paid “one peppercorn (if demanded) in rent per year since 2003.” According to the lease agreement, he and his family can live on the property until 2078.
There is a sense that Andrew will leave, though some terms still need to be worked out. If that happens, they need to figure out where he will live and if he’ll be compensated for the millions of dollars spent on refurbishment and maintenance.
His ex-wife still lives with him at the Royal Lodge even though they divorced in 1996. It sounds like Andrew and Sarah want assurances that their daughters, Princess Beatrice and Princess Eugenie’s home in St. James Palace won’t be affected if they move.
The simplest solution may be for Andrew to relocate to one of his brother’s private estates in Sandringham or Balmoral, where he’d live rent-free without taxpayer expenses.
The heir to the throne, Prince William, will reportedly ban Prince Andrew from his coronation when that day arrives.
TELL US – SHOULD PRINCE ANDREW BE COMPENSATED IF HE VOLUNTARILY LEAVES THE ROYAL LODGE?
