Prince Andrew has reportedly told friends he will not leave his grace and favour home on the Windsor estate despite claims the King wants to evict him.
The Mirror reports that the Duke of York has told friends there is “no chance” he is moving from the sprawling 30-bedroom Royal Lodge, where he has spent millions of his own money on renovations.
The shamed prince’s annual allowance of £250,000 is due to be slashed from April after the King warned his family to “tighten their belts” amidst incoming budget cuts. It reportedly left Andrew fearing he would be unable to pay his bills.
In 2003, Andrew signed a 75-year lease at £250 a week for the property, which he shares with his ex-wife Sarah, the Duchess of York. He is understood to have spend more than £7.5million in recent years on renovating the property, which has a swimming pool and 98 acres of land.
Sources say the 63-year-old Duke has assured his own family he is financially secure and believes the King would not evict him. He stopped receiving public money when he was forced to step down from royal duties in 2019, but received an allowance from the late Queen.
He is understood to have inherited a substantial windfall from his mother's will following her death last September. He is also said to be considering challenging Virginia Giuffre over the reported £12million he paid her in an out of court settlement.
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Ms Giuffre, who was trafficked by billionaire paedophile Jeffrey Epstein, alleged Andrew had sex with her when she was just 17. He has always denied her claims and believes he may have a case to overturn the settlement after she apologised to another man she accused of abusing her, US lawyer Alan Dershowitz.
In addition, his ex-wife 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 adds up to £500,000. Sarah has recently bought a £4.25million 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.”
Another source said: “Could you imagine a situation where the Duke threatens to sue his brother, the King, over money? It would be unthinkable.” A palace source insisted the King “won’t leave his brother homeless and penniless”.
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.”
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