King Charles III has made a deliberate choice to keep his brother, former Prince Andrew, living on royal property, and sources say it’s more about control than generosity. Palace insiders say the king feels that supporting his brother financially while keeping him out of the public eye is the best way to handle the situation. The aim is to reduce attention, avoid embarrassment, and prevent new problems.
King Charles feels ‘providing’ for ex-Prince Andrew is only way to ‘contain’ him, says source
On Monday night, ex-Prince Andrew vacated Royal Lodge in Windsor earlier than originally planned. The seven-bedroom property had been his home for years, but mounting pressure pushed the timeline forward. He temporarily relocated to Wood Farm, a modest residence on the Sandringham Estate.
Andrew, now 65, is expected to move again before Easter, this time into Marsh Farm, a five-bedroom house nearby that is currently undergoing renovations. Both properties sit within the Sandringham grounds, away from media attention. A palace insider explained to The Times, “The King feels he has no other option than to provide for his brother, who will be privately funded on a private estate.” They continued, “Every time he’s tried to support himself by independent means, it has led to greater trouble. Containing him is the hope.”
Under the current setup, Andrew lives entirely on private funds. Charles covers his housing, security, and personal allowance, from which Andrew pays staff and day-to-day expenses. The intention, sources stress, is to keep the former Duke completely separate from public funding and public life. Sources said speculation that Andrew is sitting on a large sum from his late mother or from the sale of former properties is unfounded.
Royal staff have also been reassured that they are not obligated to work for Andrew if they feel uncomfortable doing so. A friend of the monarch said Charles acted quickly once he realized people were losing patience. “The King feels that keeping his brother out of the public gaze and away from any kind of public expense, is the right thing to do.”
