King Charles "punished" Prince Harry and Prince Andrew by evicting them from their royal residencies, an American author has claimed. Christopher Andersen, who wrote the book The King: The Life of Charles III, said the decision was to "economise" but also to discipline the pair.
The Duke and Duchess of Sussex were removed from Frogmore Cottage, while the new King asked his brother, the Duke of York, to leave Royal Lodge. It comes after a spokesperson for Harry and Meghan confirmed the pair have been asked to vacate their UK residence by the King.
According to reports, Prince Andrew has been offered Frogmore Cottage. However, he is said to be resisting the move as he prefers the 30-room Windsor mansion that he has lived in since 2004.
Prince Harry and Meghan's eviction reportedly began on January 11 - just one day after Harry's tell-all memoir was published. However, according to Mr Andersen, there are other significant reasons behind the eviction.
He told Fox News: "Booting the Sussexes out of Frogmore Cottage was not merely an act of revenge for what Harry wrote in 'Spare' about Camilla, and it was not merely a cost-cutting move. In one fell swoop, the King managed to look as if he was economising while at the same time punishing both Harry and Andrew — a royal trifecta."
The Duke and Duchess of Sussex are said to be "stunned" by King Charles's decision. And according to royal biographer Omid Scobie, two other royals have reportedly been left "appalled".
The author, who co-wrote the biography of Harry and Meghan, Finding Freedom, said the decision was made following the release of Harry's controversial memoir Spare. He added that the couple was informed that the property was needed for "someone else" and that relations between Harry and Meghan and the rest of the Firm were at "an all-time low".
Writing for Yahoo, he said: "It's news, sources tell me, that has left Harry and Meghan stunned, and at least two members of the Royal Family 'appalled'."
Earlier this month, it emerged that Harry and Meghan have been invited to the monarch's coronation on May 6 - but the Sussexes have not yet confirmed if they will attend.
A spokesperson said: "I can confirm The Duke has recently received email correspondence from His Majesty's office regarding the coronation. An immediate decision on whether The Duke and Duchess will attend will not be disclosed by us at this time."
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