Prince Andrew “will not leave” his grace and favour home on the Windsor estate amid claims the King wants to evict him, sources have revealed.
The disgraced Duke of York has told friends there is “no chance” he is moving from the sprawling 30 bedroom Royal Lodge after spending millions of his own money on renovations.
The royal’s handsome annual allowance of £250,000 is set to be slashed from April after the King warned his family to “tighten their belts” amidst incoming budget cuts, leaving Andrew reportedly fearing he would be unable to pay his bills.
Royal Lodge has a swimming pool, 98 acres of land and is in need of repair across the estate.
In 2003, Andrew signed a 75-year lease for the property, paying £250 a week for the home, which he shares with his ex-wife Sarah, the Duchess of York.
But in recent years he is understood to have spent more £7.5 million renovating the premises.
However, sources have revealed the Duke has assured his own family he is financially secure and believes the King would not evict him.
Andrew, 63, stopped receiving public money when he was forced to step down from royal duties in 2019 over sex abuse alleged by Virginia Giuffre, one of billionaire paedophile Jeffrey Epstein’s victims, which he denies.
But he is understood to have netted a substantial windfall from the Queen’s will following her passing last September.
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He is also said to be mulling over a potential legal fight with Ms Giuffre with a reported £10million warchest.
Andrew has consulted his legal team after paying her a £12million out of court settlement before she apologised to US lawyer Alan Dershowitz for previously accusing him of sexual assault.
In addition his ex-wife Sarah Ferguson last year signed a 22 book deal with Australian publishers Serenity Press that will include three new young adult novels based on her life, with industry insiders suggesting her advance adding up to £500,000.
Fergie has recently bought a £4.25 million mews house in Belgravia but it is understood to be an “investment property”.
One source said: “He (said) he’s not leaving, there is no chance that will happen and even if the King wanted him how would that work?
“The King won’t evict him so there is no chance it will come to that.
“If he (the King) wants to spend millions reimbursing him for the money he’s already spent on the property, that’s another matter.”
A source said: “Could you imagine a situation where the Duke threatens to sue his brother, the King, over money.
“It would be unthinkable.”
Out of work Andrew, who was forced to stand down from royal duties and dumped from charities after a sex abuse scandal rocked the monarchy, could even demand from the monarch to be reimbursed if he is made to leave.
A palace source insisted the King “won’t leave his brother homeless and penniless”, amid fears of a royal row on the horizon.
Palace insiders suggest Andrew spends the majority of his time at the lodge either riding or “watching a lot of television”.
Another friend added: “He enjoys spending time with his children and his grandchildren but other than that there isn’t much for him and it’s not as though he has many friends to call upon.”
