The Prince and Princess of Wales are determined to “banish” Prince Andrew and Sarah Ferguson from Windsor’s Royal Lodge where they have lived rent-free for decades, according to royal biographer Tina Brown.
Ms Brown, a friend of Princess Diana who was editor-in-chief of Tatler and Vanity Fair, has claimed that Prince William and Kate “can’t abide” Andrew and want him to “disappear”.
She claims having him in Windsor threatens to spoil life at their “new forever home” Adelaide Cottage, where the couple will continue living with their three children George, Charlotte and Louis.
William “Calling the Shots” on Andrew’s Exile
William’s push to exile Andrew throws intriguing new light on claims that he is beginning to call the shots in the Royal Family because of his father King Charles’s health.
Writing on her Fresh Hell Substack, Ms Brown, the highly respected author of The Palace Papers, said: “Unless Andrew can be persuaded to banish himself to a cottage on the Balmoral estate or a cushy villa on a Dubai golf course, his scowly, jowly visage will keep seeping back into the national consciousness.
Calling Andrew the “Duke of Dross”, she said the future king and queen are pondering: “How do you disappear a 6-foot-tall, 190-pound, 65-year-old man in robust good health who has an iron-clad contract to live in the Queen Mother’s former mansion, a short neigh from Windsor Castle and just four miles from the new ‘forever’ home of Prince William and Kate, who can’t abide him?
Andrew Hasn’t Paid Rent for 22 Years
It came after yet another shocking twist in the royal-Epstein scandal when it emerged last night Andrew hasn’t paid rent on his palatial property for 22 years, said to be in the region of £260,000 a year.
The revelation that taxpayers have effectively subsidised Andrew’s luxurious lifestyle to the tune of millions of pounds has sparked fury amongst MPs and the public.
Royal Lodge, the Queen Mother’s former residence, is a 30-room mansion set in 98 acres of Windsor Great Park, one of the most prestigious royal properties.
Scotland Yard “Actively Probing” Andrew
Andrew could become the first royal to be caught up in a criminal probe in more than 20 years.
Scotland Yard has confirmed it is “actively” probing claims he asked an officer to dig up dirt on Virginia Giuffre, whose posthumous autobiography is out today.
The investigation represents a dramatic escalation of Andrew’s legal troubles and could result in the first criminal charges against a senior royal in decades.
Jenrick: “Public Are Sick of Prince Andrew“
Shadow Justice Secretary Robert Jenrick has said it is disgusting that taxpayers are subsidising Andrew to live in a 30-room mansion with his ex-wife Sarah Ferguson when he should be paying £200,000 a year.
“I don’t see why the taxpayer frankly should continue to foot the bill. The public are sick of Prince Andrew,” he said.
“I don’t think the taxpayer should in any way be footing the bill for him to live in luxury homes ever again. He shouldn’t have any taxpayer subsidies going forward.”
Jenrick’s intervention reflects growing political pressure on the Royal Family to resolve the Andrew problem decisively.
William May Ban Andrew From His Coronation
Brown repeated the claim that William will ban his errant uncle from his coronation when he eventually becomes king.
She even suggested William could consider keeping away from King Charles’s funeral, when the tragedy occurs, if Andrew is permitted to attend.
“The thornier question, perhaps approaching faster than anyone is indelicate enough to discuss, is whether, in the fullness of time, Andrew will be allowed to attend his brother, the king’s, funeral,” she wrote.
Toe-Curling Moment at Duchess of Kent’s Funeral
Tina cited the toe-curling moment William was stuck next to Andrew outside the Duchess of Kent’s funeral at Westminster Cathedral last month.
William looked deeply uncomfortable as his uncle appeared to be laughing as they left the service.
She said: “The untenable hazard of banning him from public events but allowing him to still show up at family occasions was writ large at the September funeral of the Duchess of Kent, the late queen’s cousin.”
“As the mourning royal party paused respectfully in the door of Westminster Cathedral when the duchess’s funeral cortege passed, Andrew loomed like a great white shark at the shoulder of a stone-faced Prince William.”
“It was impossible for William, staring implacably in the other direction, to get his uncle’s baleful mug out of the shot. No chance of that happening again.”
“Iron-Clad Contract” Complicates Eviction
Andrew signed a 75-year lease on Royal Lodge in 2003, giving him legal right to remain in the property until 2078.
The “iron-clad contract” makes it extremely difficult to evict him, even though King Charles and Prince William are desperate to see him gone.
Andrew has reportedly spent millions on renovations to the property, further strengthening his claim to remain.
Options for Andrew’s Exile
Brown suggested several potential locations where Andrew could be “banished”:
- A cottage on the Balmoral estate in Scotland
- A “cushy villa on a Dubai golf course”
- Any location far enough from Windsor to avoid embarrassing proximity to William and Kate
However, Andrew has shown no willingness to voluntarily leave Royal Lodge, making forced eviction the only option.
Impact on William and Kate’s Windsor Life
The Wales family’s proximity to Andrew at Royal Lodge, just four miles from Adelaide Cottage, creates an untenable situation for the future king and queen.
William and Kate are establishing Windsor as their permanent family base, and having the disgraced Duke of York as a near-neighbour undermines their efforts to present a respectable, modern monarchy.
The couple’s three children attend school locally, meaning Andrew’s presence threatens to become a recurring source of embarrassment.
“Duke of Dross” Label
Brown’s description of Andrew as the “Duke of Dross” reflects the contempt with which many royal observers now view the scandal-plagued prince.
“Dross” means rubbish or waste matter, suggesting Andrew has become worthless baggage for the Royal Family.
The harsh language reflects how dramatically Andrew’s reputation has fallen from his days as a respected naval officer and royal representative.
Charles’s Health Adds Urgency
Claims that William is “calling the shots” due to his father’s health suggest the succession may be approaching faster than expected.
If Charles’s health deteriorates, William will need to assert his authority over royal residences and family members sooner rather than later.
The Andrew problem represents an early test of William’s leadership and his willingness to make tough decisions about family members.
Sarah Ferguson Also Targeted
Brown’s claim that both Andrew and Sarah Ferguson need to be removed suggests the entire York household has become an embarrassment.
Despite divorcing in 1996, the couple have continued living together, with Sarah also benefiting from the rent-free arrangement.
Her inclusion in calls for banishment reflects how their joint occupation of Royal Lodge has become untenable.
Public Sentiment Turns Against Andrew
Polling consistently shows the British public has no sympathy for Andrew and wants him stripped of all privileges.
His refusal to leave Royal Lodge despite the Epstein scandal has hardened opinion against him.
The revelation he hasn’t paid rent for 22 years will likely fuel further public anger.
As the battle over Royal Lodge intensifies, it appears increasingly inevitable that Andrew will eventually be forced out, whether by his family’s pressure or his own declining position becoming completely unsustainable.
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Image Credit:
Prince William, Duke of Cambridge & Catherine, Duchess of Cambridge — photo by Frankie Fouganthin, licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0 via Wikimedia Commons.
