The relationship between King Charles and his brother, Prince Andrew, has entered a difficult phase due to a £30 million mansion. King Charles wants his brother to vacate Royal Lodge and has threatened to cut ties if the Duke continues to insist on not leaving the house and moving to Prince Harry's former residence. The Duke, who no longer has official duties after being compelled to resign due to the Jeffrey Epstein scandal, shares the 30-room mansion valued at £30 million with his ex-wife Sarah, the Duchess of York.
The King has long tried to convince his brother—who lacks a clear source of income—to leave Windsor Castle amid rumors about Prince William, the Prince of Wales, wanting to stay there to reflect his role as the heir to the throne. Sources close to the King revealed that he has offered his brother a deal that would ensure he receives a good income from his private funds from the Duchy of Lancaster. An acquaintance of the King told the Times, "Unfortunately, if Andrew refuses to leave within a reasonable timeframe, the King may have to reassess the entire support package he provides, and the Duke would be required to bear the lion's share of his security, residency, and lifestyle expenses—things he is unlikely to sustain in the long term, given the costs."
After the King's ongoing attempts to get Andrew out of Royal Lodge, one of Charles's friends stated, "Under the current situation, life at Royal Lodge is set to become hell." Allegations emerged last year regarding Andrew's inability to cover the £400,000 annual maintenance costs of the mansion. The property dates back to the 19th century, and Andrew first moved in in 2004, residing there now with his ex-wife Sarah.
The Prince signed a 75-year lease, paying £250 a week and agreeing to maintain the large property. However, the pressure on the Prince to leave his royal duties due to the Jeffrey Epstein scandal has reduced his annual allowance of £249,000, making it difficult for the Duke to fulfill his obligations. According to his friends, such a drastic change in his financial resources means he will not be able to cover the property's costs. Despite potential financial concerns, sources close to the Duke stated last January, "Andrew is not going anywhere. He has a very solid lease."
