Prince Andrew's ex-wife Sarah Ferguson to help fund £2m of repairs as Duke of York fights to keep home
Prince Andrew's ex-wife Sarah Ferguson will step in to help the Duke of York fund £2m worth of repairs needed on the Royal Lodge.
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Prince Andrew's ex-wife Sarah Ferguson will step in to help the Duke of York fund £2m worth of repairs needed on the Royal Lodge.
The Duchess of York lives in the royal residence with Andrew when she is in the UK and is prepared to bankroll the necessary work that King Charles has sought assurances over.
A friend of Fergie said: "It is true Sarah has a vested interest in Andrew continuing to live at Royal Lodge, as it is where she stays when in the UK.
"But it is more than that, this is about Andrew’s pride.
The Duchess of York lives in the royal residence with Andrew when she is in the UK
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"Andrew has always stood by Sarah throughout her various past failures and she sees this as her chance to do the same."
It comes as royal insiders claimed Prince Andrew is unrealistic about his financial ability to fund the necessary repairs the Royal Lodge needs.
The King has agreed to allow Prince Andrew to remain in the Royal Lodge after a breakthrough in crunch talks between the royals.
However, an initial report that the Duke of York would be allowed to stay indefinitely at his 30-room royal mansion has been disputed by sources close to the Royal Family.
The King has agreed to allow Prince Andrew to remain in the Royal Lodge after a breakthrough in crunch talks between the royals.
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A Royal Family friend told the Mail: "It's all a bit cloud cuckoo-land, I'm afraid.
"No one, not least His Majesty, believes there is any realistic, long-term chance of the Duke of York being able to keep the roof at Royal Lodge over his head.
"It's a massive property and estate that requires a huge amount of upkeep."
Another royal insider claimed: "In all honesty, I would not expect to see the Duke of York living at Royal Lodge in the long term.
"If he could pay the upkeep then he would be welcome to stay. But the chances of that happening are, frankly, remote.
"He and the duchess [Sarah Ferguson] are… rattling around in a huge property they simply can't afford."
Just days ago, the Mirror reported Prince Andrew had given King Charles assurances that he would have the necessary funds to go ahead with much-needed repairs on the royal residence.
The King and his brother met in August to thrash out the details of the deal according to royal sources.
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The Duke of York has already spent £200,000 on repairing the roof of the Royal Lodge which was described as an "interim payment" to secure the agreement with the King.
The King and his brother met in August to thrash out the details of the deal according to royal sources.
King Charles had been trying to move his brother out of the Royal Lodge with Meghan and Harry's former UK base Frogmore Cottage mooted as a replacement home.