King Charles has 'only one way' to get Prince Andrew out of the Royal Lodge

The Duke signed a long-term lease on the royal residence in 2003 and does not want to leave his home, which is worth an estimated £30million.

A close associate of Andrew told the Times: "The lease is in the duke’s name so no one can take that away from him.

They continued: "It has never been suggested that it could be taken away from him.

"It’s a long lease with 80 to 90 years left on it. This is a lease between him and the Crown Estate.

"That’s not a matter for the King. It’s a matter for the chancellor of the exchequer.

"The only way you could get him to move out would be through an arrangement — he would have to agree."

A friend of the Duke of York has criticised the King over his bid to get Andrew to leave the Royal Lodge.

They told the Daily Mail: "If Charles wants Andrew to play ball and help the family through these difficult times, aren’t there better ways of going about it?

"Why not do the decent thing, sit down and talk?

"If they need the house for William, perhaps Andrew should be told. Perhaps William should invite his uncle for tea and explain.

"Or why doesn’t Charles invite his brother for a meeting and ask him if he’d leave Royal Lodge to help his nephew and the future of the monarchy? And agree a schedule acceptable to both sides.

"Is a little decency so difficult? There are real people at the heart of all this.

"He’s just lost his mother. Who, straight after that, would want to be evicted by his brother?"