King Charles III has reportedly terminated the security team stationed at Prince Andrew‘s residence, the Royal Lodge, as the Duke of York continues to resist calls to downsize from the property. The decision has fueled speculation that the disgraced royal may soon be forced to vacate his longtime home.
According to The Sun, Charles informed the ten-man security detail that their contracts would not be renewed after October.“They are all working the final weeks of their contract till the end of October. It’s not thought anyone is being lined up to replace them,” a palace insider told the outlet. The source added, “Everyone is speculating this means the Duke will have to leave the Royal Lodge because what other reason could there be to take his security away?”
Prince Andrew, 64, has resided at the 31-room Royal Lodge, located on the grounds of Windsor Castle, since 2004, after signing a 75-year lease agreement the previous year. The property, valued at $38 million, has been Andrew’s home despite the mounting controversy surrounding his association with the late financier Jeffrey Epstein. Since 2019, Andrew has faced eviction pressures following revelations of his ties to Epstein.
Further compounding his troubles, Andrew has reportedly neglected to pay for the maintenance of the property, which requires an annual upkeep of $503,000, as reported by Us Weekly in May. The financial strain on the Duke has been significant, with King Charles reportedly paying his younger brother $5.1 million annually to keep him financially afloat.
Additionally, the King has been covering the cost of private security at the Royal Lodge since Andrew’s $3.8 million Metropolitan Police protection was removed when he was stripped of his royal roles by Queen Elizabeth II.
“It isn’t a secret that the King wants him out,” the insider told The Sun.
The latest security move comes after reports that Andrew has refused to vacate the Royal Lodge for the smaller Frogmore Cottage, the former residence of his nephew Prince Harry, who was forced to leave the property in June 2023.
Despite the tensions, Andrew traveled to Scotland on Friday to join his brother and the rest of the royal family at Balmoral Castle. He will be accompanied by his ex-wife, Sarah Ferguson, their daughters, Princess Beatrice and Princess Eugenie, and their grandchildren, according to Express.co.uk. Notably absent from the official guest list were Prince Harry and his wife, Meghan Markle.
Andrew has been described as a “recluse,” rarely leaving the Royal Lodge since December. A source told Express.co.uk, “Andrew has hardly left Royal Lodge since Christmas so he’s very much looking forward to getting away with the rest of the family at Balmoral. The King is keen for it to be a happy family occasion which will see members of the family come together for just over a week to discuss plans for the future and to unwind.”
According to The Sun, Charles informed the ten-man security detail that their contracts would not be renewed after October.“They are all working the final weeks of their contract till the end of October. It’s not thought anyone is being lined up to replace them,” a palace insider told the outlet. The source added, “Everyone is speculating this means the Duke will have to leave the Royal Lodge because what other reason could there be to take his security away?”
Prince Andrew, 64, has resided at the 31-room Royal Lodge, located on the grounds of Windsor Castle, since 2004, after signing a 75-year lease agreement the previous year. The property, valued at $38 million, has been Andrew’s home despite the mounting controversy surrounding his association with the late financier Jeffrey Epstein. Since 2019, Andrew has faced eviction pressures following revelations of his ties to Epstein.
Further compounding his troubles, Andrew has reportedly neglected to pay for the maintenance of the property, which requires an annual upkeep of $503,000, as reported by Us Weekly in May. The financial strain on the Duke has been significant, with King Charles reportedly paying his younger brother $5.1 million annually to keep him financially afloat.
Additionally, the King has been covering the cost of private security at the Royal Lodge since Andrew’s $3.8 million Metropolitan Police protection was removed when he was stripped of his royal roles by Queen Elizabeth II.
“It isn’t a secret that the King wants him out,” the insider told The Sun.
The latest security move comes after reports that Andrew has refused to vacate the Royal Lodge for the smaller Frogmore Cottage, the former residence of his nephew Prince Harry, who was forced to leave the property in June 2023.
Despite the tensions, Andrew traveled to Scotland on Friday to join his brother and the rest of the royal family at Balmoral Castle. He will be accompanied by his ex-wife, Sarah Ferguson, their daughters, Princess Beatrice and Princess Eugenie, and their grandchildren, according to Express.co.uk. Notably absent from the official guest list were Prince Harry and his wife, Meghan Markle.
Andrew has been described as a “recluse,” rarely leaving the Royal Lodge since December. A source told Express.co.uk, “Andrew has hardly left Royal Lodge since Christmas so he’s very much looking forward to getting away with the rest of the family at Balmoral. The King is keen for it to be a happy family occasion which will see members of the family come together for just over a week to discuss plans for the future and to unwind.”
Source : Times of India
