William and Charles launch move against Andrew as disgraced Duke 'digging his heels in' during royal feud

The decision to boot the Duke of York out of the Royal Lodge comes as part of King Charles’ wider strategy to slim down the Royal Family.

Royal biographer Andrew Lownie told The Daily Beast: “Andrew is digging his heels... it’s part of a wider power and status game with Charles.

“Optics don’t look good, but that won’t worry Andrew. I don’t see him ever leaving.

“Charles and William have united to bring him down a peg or two and try and keep him and his family under the radar because they, as the future of the monarchy, have most to lose by his antics.”

Prince Andrew reportedly signed a 75-year lease for the Royal Lodge in 2003.

He lives in the property with his ex-wife despite the couple divorcing in 1996.

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The Duke of York’s standing in the Firm took a hammer blow following his legal settlement with Virginia Guiffre.

Guiffre brought a civil suit against Andrew for sexual assault allegations.

The Prince strongly denied the accusations and any wrongdoing but was stripped of his patronages by his late mother Queen Elizabeth II.

King Charles’ ambitions to slim down the Royal Family led to the monarch serving his son Prince Harry and daughter-in-law Meghan Markle with an eviction notice.

The Sussexes, who used Frogmore Cottage as their post-Megxit base in the United Kingdom, vacated the property in June.

There have been reports Prince Andrew could move into Frogmore Cottage.

Fergie previously addressed speculation about a switch from the Royal Lodge.

The mother-of-two said: “Don’t always believe what you read.”

The Duchess of York added: “I don’t know. I take every day as it comes.”