King Charles has been warned he risks the wrath of Prince Andrew with plans to force the Duke of York to up sticks.
The monarch has reportedly offered Andrew Frogmore Cottage, a move that would see the 63-year-old downsize from the 31-bedroom Royal Lodge, where he currently resides.
Royal expert Michael Cole said such a move could cause friction among the royals, with the Duke of York likely to take it “extremely badly”.
He told GB News: “In a bizarre arrangement which I don’t think you’ll find on any street, his ex-wife, Fergie, also lives with him there now.
Michael Cole says King Charles could face significant backlash from his younger brother
GB News
“I think what is happening behind the scenes here is that the King is saying to his younger brother, ‘you’re not doing any royal work. I think more modest accommodation would be in order’.
“That will go down extremely badly with Prince Andrew.”
It comes following a Sun report suggesting Prince Harry and Meghan Markle are set to be booted out of Frogmore Cottage by the monarch.
The Duke and Duchess of Sussex currently reside in California with their two children, Archie and Lilibet, after relinquishing royal duties in 2020.
Cole says the motives behind the decision are likely to include the couple’s “cruel” comments about “the firm”, made in their Netflix docuseries and Harry’s book, ‘Spare’.
He said: “Frogmore Cottage underwent a huge renovation cost, it must be said Harry repaid all that money when all the oodles of cash started to flow in from people like Netflix and Penguin Random House.
“The Sussexes hardly had time to undo their boxes before moving out, they did a runner first to Canada and then to California.
“This actually recognises reality, they haven’t lived there for a long time and they’re hardly likely to come back home said such unkind and cruel things on their videos and in Harry’s book ‘spare’.”
Should King Charles move Prince Andrew to Frogmore Cottage, his younger brother will be left disappointed, according to a royal expert
PA
The late Queen’s second son, Andrew, stepped down as a working royal in 2019 after a controversial interview about allegations that he had sexually assaulted Virginia Giuffre.
In February 2022, he paid an undisclosed sum to settle the civil sexual assault case brought to him by Giuffre in the US.
He has repeatedly denied the allegations.
A recent report by The Sun suggests Andrew is unreceptive to the idea of downsizing, and is resisting the idea of moving into Harry and Meghan’s residence.
Rumours have circulated over how the King views the Duke of York’s future role as part of the royal fold.
The Mail reported in November 2022 that Andrew was left “tearful” after a meeting that occurred just days before the Queen’s death with his older brother.
Charles is said to have quashed any lingering hopes Andrew had of making a royal comeback.
