Prince Andrew has repeatedly refused to vacate Royal Lodge, despite King Charles cutting his £1million annual allowance and withdrawing funding for his £3million security detail, a property expert has spoken to GB News about why the disgraced duke is so determined to stay.
The Duke of York has chosen to remain at the 30-room Windsor Great Park mansion rather than relocate to the smaller Frogmore Cottage, which became available after the eviction of Prince Harry and Meghan Markle.
According to property buying agent Robin Edwards from Curetons, the King's decision to cut funding was partly intended to pressure Andrew into downsizing. However, the Prince has steadfastly refused to leave his current residence.
Rather than accept the move to Frogmore Cottage, Prince Andrew has opted to employ a budget security company to protect Royal Lodge. Edwards claimed that "he has apparently been forced to economise and hire a cut-price security firm to guard him and Royal Lodge."
Frogmore Cottage vs. Royal Lodge: Why Prince Andrew refused to downsize.
Getty / PA
The Duke's resistance stems from his perception of the alternative accommodation. "However, he has refused to leave his lavish mansion and move to the significantly smaller Frogmore Cottage, believing it to be not grand enough for him," Edwards stated.
This decision means Andrew must now personally fund both the property's extensive maintenance requirements and its security arrangements.
The financial burden of maintaining Royal Lodge is considerable. Edwards explained that when Prince Andrew secured the 75-year lease from the Crown Estate in August 2003, the agreement required him to fund refurbishments personally.
"Even back in September 2002 that was very conservatively estimated at at least £7.5 million excluding tax.
Royal Lodge is located on the Windsor Estate.
Getty'The costs are likely to have grown significantly since then with time and inflation," Edwards told the People's Channel.
The property sits outside Windsor Castle's security perimeter, unlike Frogmore Cottage and Adelaide Cottage, making protection costs substantially higher.
This geographical factor contributed to the £3million annual security bill that the King refused to cover.
Despite Andrew's refusal to relocate, Frogmore Cottage represents a valuable asset that could generate significant rental income.
The Sussexes had been told to clear their possessions out of Frogmore in 2023.
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Prince Andrew stepped down as a working member of the Royal Family in 2019.
PAEdwards noted that the four-bedroom, four-bathroom property has been recently renovated and occupies a prime position within Home Park, Windsor.
"Similar high-calibre properties in Windsor, particularly those offering high security, privacy and extensive grounds, can easily fetch between £15,000 and £25,000 per month," Edwards explained.
He added that the property's royal heritage could command even higher rates: "However, given the property's royal provenance and prestige, the rent could easily exceed £30,000 per month, meaning a potential annual rental income of up to nearly £400,000."
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