The King is threatening to cut ties with Prince Andrew if he refuses to leave his Royal Lodge home for a smaller residence, according to a royal insider.
A friend of the monarch says the disgraced younger sibling is stretching the King’s “patience and tolerance” by staying in the 30-room mansion in Windsor Great Park, Berkshire.
Despite being asked to move to the vacated Frogmore Cottage in Windsor to make way for the Prince of Wales, Prince Andrew continues to live in the Royal Lodge with his ex-wife Sarah.
The Duke of York has been out of work since the Jeffrey Epstein scandal and has no known source of income, despite recurring talks that he could launch a comeback.
“The King’s kindness is not without limit,” a friend of Charles told the Times on Saturday.
“There is a very good option for Andrew to move into Frogmore Cottage, recently vacated by the Duke and Duchess of Sussex.
“[It] also has the benefit of being within the Windsor Castle security cordon hence reducing the need for alternative round-the-clock security for Royal Lodge.”
The Duke and Ferguson, both 64, divorced in 1996 but have remained close and she attended the Christmas service at St Mary Magdalene Church, Sandringham, last year.
The Duke and Duchess of Sussex moved out of Frogmore Cottage and sub-let it to Princess Eugenie, the younger daughter of Andrew, and her husband Jack Brooksbank in 2020. They moved out in 2022, leaving it vacant.
Frogmore Cottage encompasses some 40 hectares and, while not as grand as the Royal Lodge, contains four bedrooms.
The friend added: “He [Andrew] is taking longer than desirable to recognise the reality of the situation, even though it is clearly the most sensible course of action.
“If he doesn’t agree to move to a property better suited to his needs, then the King may have to reconsider the levels of support he is willing to provide.”
Prince Andrew moved into the Royal Lodge with his family in 2004 but is said to struggle to be able to afford the £400,000-a-year upkeep.
