Prince Andrew is “within his rights” to refuse to leave Windsor’s Royal Lodge, a royal expert has claimed.
The Duke of York made the Grade-II listed property his home in 2003 following the death of the Queen Mother.
Andrew’s former wife Sarah Ferguson, who he divorced in 1996 and shares two children with, also now lives at the residence.
Andrew Lownie, author of the 2021 book about Edward VIII Traitor King, argued the 63-year-old honoured his promise to pay for renovation and upkeep of the Royal Lodge.
Prince Andrew and his brother King Charles reportedly disagree about what should happen to the Royal Lodge
PAHe told The Daily Express: “Andrew has a lease with the Crown Estates in return for paying for renovation and upkeep and he has honoured that.
“The optics might not look good for a non-working royal but he is within his rights. Status matters to him – as he reminds everyone constantly he was the second son of the monarch – and he feels he is entitled to stay.”
Lownie added: “[Andrew’s] protector, the Queen, has gone and the family see him as an embarrassment but he has never been one to be pushed around.
“Self-awareness is not one of his qualities… He’s certainly not thinking of the wider interests of the Royal Family.”
Sarah Ferguson also lives with her ex-husband at the Royal Lodge
PAHowever, Prince Andrew has reportedly disagreed with older brother King Charles over Royal Lodge.
The monarch was previously tipped to ask the Duke of York to vacate the 30-room property.
King Charles is committed to slimming down the Firm, with the Edinburghs and Waleses taking a more central role while others fall back.
Andrew’s daughters Princess Beatrice and Princess Eugenie were stripped of their 24-hour police protection last year after a row broke out over the £500,000 annual cost.
King Charles has been slimming down the Royal Family since succeeding Queen Elizabeth II
PAThe Duke of York was also stripped of his military titles and royal patronages just one month before he settled his civil sexual assault case with Virginia Giuffre.
Prince Andrew consistently denied the allegations brought against him in the US case.
The 63-year-old sat in the third row at King Charles’s Coronation at Westminster Abbey last month.
Prince Andrew wore ceremonial robes of the Order of the Garter but was not given a formal role at the ceremony.
Prince William, Princess Kate and the couple’s three children, who currently live in Adelaide Cottage, have reportedly been eyeing-up the property for their next move.
