Following the death of Queen Elizabeth II, King Charles implemented his new slimmed-down monarchy which did not include his brother Prince Andrew as he has no official role in the family anymore. Therefore after evicting former working royals Prince Harry and Meghan Markle from their Frogmore Cottage home in Windsor, many thought Andrew would move to that smaller house amid rumblings that the disgraced prince would be told to vacate his massive Royal Lodge property.
Well, the Duke of York has been told to move but so far, he’s not budging. And while the pressure is mounting from the king for Andrew to leave, two royal family members are coming to the prince’s aid helping him “draw up a battle plan” to get the monarch to stop efforts to evict him.
The royals who are putting together a ‘battle plan’
as he arrives at St. George’s Chapel, Windsor Castle, to attend the Easter Mattins Service | JUSTIN TALLIS/AFP via Getty Images
Royal Lodge was passed onto Prince Andrew following the death of his grandmom, the Queen Mother, in 2002. It has a total of 30 rooms including seven bedrooms spread across the two top floors, as well as a large drawing room known as The Formal Room, a saloon, and an indoor swimming pool.
In 2003, Andrew signed a 75-year lease to live at the estate and pay £250 ($329) a week. That agreement is one of the things he and King Charles are battling over.
Now family members who have reportedly heard enough of the back and forth that the prince may have to leave Royal Lodge despite his resistance are his daughters, Princess Beatrice and Princess Eugenie.
Princess Beatrice and Princess Eugenie attend The Anti Slavery Collective’s inaugural Winter Gala at Battersea Arts Centre | Dave Benett/Getty Images for The Anti Slavery Collective
According to Express, the York sisters have “drawn up a battle plan” as they step up to help their father over the threat of being kicked out of his beloved home. Sources have claimed that Beatrice and Eugenie are very upset with how their dad has been treated and devised a plan to ensure that he can remain at Royal Lodge.
A well-placed source shared: “The York family have held several meetings and drawn up a battle plan. They will not allow their family to fall or come up against any more negative press.”
Although Eugenie is also involved, Beatrice is reportedly leading the talks.
The source added: “It’s very much a charge led by Beatrice … She’s extremely loyal and has taken the reins.”
Royal Lodge is in need of upkeep and reportedly rotting away
News broke recently that Royal Lodge is in need of some extensive repairs after photos of the property show the exterior stained with black mold, visible cracks, and crumbling paintwork falling away. Despite how things look on the outside of the property, Andrew is reportedly addressing interior concerns per his lease agreement which states that the residence must be kept in good condition throughout.
In an updated version of the book Charles III: New King. New Court. The Inside Story by Robert Hardman the duke has found other sources of income to fund Royal Lodge and the improvements needed including a mold issue.
The author wrote: “[Andrew] claims to have found other sources of income related to his contacts in international trade, sufficient to cover all his costs — which would be a welcome outcome for all parties if that turns out to be the case. But as to whether this funding can be relied upon in the long term is another matter.”
