King Charles has reached the end of his tether with his younger brother, Prince Andrew, after years of attempts to persuade the Duke of York to vacate the sprawling Royal Lodge in Windsor Great Park.
Sources close to the monarch describe the King’s “patience finally snapping” amid escalating tensions over the duke’s refusal to downsize to more modest accommodation.
The 30-room mansion, which has been Prince Andrew’s home for more than two decades, requires millions of pounds in upkeep.
With the duke no longer a working royal and stripped of his public funding following the Epstein scandal, the King had proposed that Andrew relocate to Frogmore Cottage—previously occupied by the Duke and Duchess of Sussex—to reduce security and maintenance costs borne by the royal estate.
Insiders say Charles had offered generous financial support for the move, including covering refurbishment expenses at the smaller property.
Yet Andrew, 65, has dug in his heels, insisting he holds a long-term lease on Royal Lodge and has the personal means to maintain it through private income.
“His Majesty has tried everything—kindness, incentives, even direct appeals to family duty,” one palace source told reporters.
“But the duke simply willes not budge. The King now feels he has no choice but to take firmer action.”
Security Arrangements Under Review
The flashpoint appears to be security. The Home Office has informed Prince Andrew that his publicly funded police protection—estimated at several million pounds annually—will be withdrawn by the end of the year.
While the duke can hire private guards, the cost of securing the 98-acre Royal Lodge estate is said to be prohibitive without taxpayer support.
A senior aide confirmed that the King has instructed estate managers to begin formal proceedings to renegotiate or potentially terminate Andrew’s lease if he continues to resist relocation.
“This is not about punishment,” the aide stressed. “It is about responsible stewardship of royal resources at a time when every penny is scrutinised.”
A Decade of Damage Limitation
The standoff marks the latest chapter in a saga that began with Prince Andrew’s disastrous 2019 Newsnight interview and subsequent withdrawal from royal duties.
Though he settled a civil sexual assault case with Virginia Giuffre out of court in 2022—insisting he never met her and had no recollection of any alleged incident—the association with convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein continues to cast a long shadow.
Royal watchers note that King Charles, who ascended the throne in September 2022, initially adopted a conciliatory approach, allowing his brother to retain the lodge while quietly reducing his public profile.
But with the Coronation now two years behind him and the monarchy facing fresh scrutiny over transparency and cost, the King is said to view Andrew’s intransigence as untenable.
Family Fracture
The rift extends beyond logistics. Courtiers report that Queen Camilla and the Prince of Wales have both urged decisive action, fearing the saga distracts from the King’s slimmed-down vision for the monarchy.
Princess Beatrice and Princess Eugenie, Andrew’s daughters, are understood to be caught in the middle, desperate to avoid public family discord.
One well-placed source described the King’s mood as “deeply saddened but resolute.” Another added: “He loves his brother, but the institution must come first.”
What Happens Next?
Should Prince Andrew refuse to leave voluntarily, legal experts suggest the Crown Estate could seek possession through the courts—a nuclear option that would generate intense negative publicity.
More likely, insiders predict, is a compromise: Andrew stays in a reduced wing of Royal Lodge while the remainder is repurposed for charitable or commercial use.
For now, the gates of Royal Lodge remain firmly closed, and the duke—photographed driving in Windsor this week—shows no sign of packing.
But with winter approaching and security changes looming, time appears to be running out for the embattled royal.
As one former courtier put it: “The King has bent over backwards. Now the backbone must straighten.”
