01 June 2024 , 07:15
599
0
King Charles is turning up the heat on disgraced Prince Andrew warning life will become "uncomfortable" if he refuses to quit his 30-room mansion.
The King, 75, has redoubled efforts this year to evict his brother who shares the home with ex-wife Sarah Ferguson with insiders branding the stand-off the "siege of Royal Lodge".
The Duke of York’s Royal Lodge where he has lived since 2002
The Royal Lodge sits on 90 acres in Windsor Park
Palace sources say the King, who is funding Andy’s life, could "reconsider the levels of support he is willing to provide" if he refuses all offers of a new home.
The shamed Duke of York, 64, who will never return to public duty after paying millions to settle an abuse case with a Jeffrey Epstein sex trafficking, has refused for 18 months the King’s pleas to move out.
The Sun exclusively revealed Andrew had rejected the chance to move into Frogmore Cottage last year after Harry and Meghan were served with eviction.
Andrew, who will never return to royal duties over his links to dead peado billionaire, is still refusing to budge pointing out that he is in possession of a 75-year lease.
But a friend told The Times: "It can be done tidily or untidily. It can be done with grace and dignity or it can be forced upon him. It’s all rather sad.
"But as things stand, life at Royal Lodge is set to become increasingly cold and uncomfortable for the duke.
"The only question now is when he will realise that he has become a prisoner of his own pride - and that handing back the keys will afford him far greater comfort, and the continued support of his family."
It comes as Charles is said to be unwilling to keep paying out of his own pocket to fund Andy’s lavish lifestyle.
Sources close to the monarch claim he could be forced to "reconsider the levels of support he is willing to provide" if the so-called siege of Royal Lodge continues.
The disgraced Duke’s police protection was removed when he stepped down from public duty amid the Epstein scandal.
But Charles stepped in to pick up his multi-million pounds private security bill.
The crisis shows no sign of going away after Netflix screened its hit drama Scoop detailing Andy’s ’car crash’ Newsnight interview.
And there is yet another depiction of his shame in an Amazon series on his downfall where Andy is played by actor Michael Sheen.
The scandal-hit father of two has kept out of the public since he caused controversy leading the family into a service for late Greek King Constantine at Windsor Castle in February in the absence of the cancer-hit King.
But last month he was seen playing golf without a care in the world with pals in Scotland.
His finances are said to be in trouble as he can no longer work and it is unclear if he received any major windfall from his late mother’s will when she died in September 2022.
But he and ex-wife Fergie got to keep the corgi’s and he pocketed millions of pounds from the sale of his chalet in the Swiss Alps.
And the late Queen helped pay his multi-million pound out-of-court settlement to sex abuse accuser Virginia Giuffre.
Sources close to Prince Andrew insist he will not leave Royal Lodge citing a 75-year lease on the property that does not expire until June 15, 2078.
Friends of the Duke last night he has a "cast iron" lease and sees no reason to give up his home he has lived in for the past 20 years.
A source familiar moves to force Andy out told The Times: "The King’s kindness is not without limit and there is a very good option for Andrew to move into Frogmore Cottage, recently vacated by the Duke and Duchess of Sussex, which also has the benefit of being within the Windsor Castle security cordon hence reducing the need for alternative round-the-clock security for Royal Lodge.
"He is taking longer than desirable to recognise the reality of the situation, even though it is clearly the most sensible course of action.
"If he doesn’t agree to move to a property better suited to his needs, then the King may have to reconsider the levels of support he is willing to provide."
Another acquaintance who has visited Royal Lodge told the newspaper: "It’s really rather sad but if it’s a case of who will blink first then Andrew is going to dig in. He ain’t going anywhere.
"He has had a stay of execution with Sarah and the King’s illnesses and he will be hoping that Charles won’t want to be seen as vindictive by turfing him out."
The Duchess of York, who despite divorcing Andy 30 years ago still lives in Royal Lodge, has recently been fighting breast and skin cancer.
Palace sources have insisted Prince Andrew "remains the King’s brother" and is welcome at family events but will never return to public duty.
A Buckingham Palace spokesman refused to comment.