King Charles's ongoing feud with Prince Andrew over the latter's potential relocation from the Royal Lodge in Windsor to Frogmore Cottage is sending a clear message to Prince Harry, according to royal commentator Tom Quinn. The dispute, which centers around the King's desire to have his disgraced brother vacate the 30-room Royal Lodge, is seen as a multi-faceted strategy to address several issues within the royal family.
Speaking to The Mirror, Quinn explained, "For King Charles, forcing Andrew to move to Frogmore solves several problems at once. It sends a message to Harry that, as a private citizen and no longer a working royal, he will never be allowed back to Frogmore." The Duke of Sussex, who stepped down from royal duties four years ago, had previously resided at Frogmore Cottage with his wife, Meghan Markle, before their move to the United States.
Despite paying rent at Frogmore Cottage for three years and even staying at the Windsor residence during the Platinum Jubilee in 2022, Prince Harry and Meghan were evicted from the property in 2023 following the release of the Duke's memoir, "Spare." Since then, the father-of-two has been forced to stay in hotels during his recent trips to the UK.
Quinn further elaborated on the implications of the Frogmore feud, stating, "It sends [a] message to Andrew that having disgraced himself, he can no longer expect to live in the grand style. And, finally, it means that a suitably grand residence can be made ready for the royals who really matter, William and Kate. Charles is determined that Royal Lodge is the only residence on the royal estate at Windsor that is big enough and regal enough for his heir."
Prince Andrew, who was forced to step down as a working royal in 2019 following his controversial Newsnight interview discussing his friendship with the late convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein, has remained living at the Royal Lodge since 2003 despite his withdrawal from public life. Meanwhile, Prince William and Princess Kate reside in the nearby Adelaide Cottage.
A royal source recently told The Times, "The King's kindness is not without limit and there is a very good option for Andrew to move into Frogmore Cottage, recently vacated by the Duke and Duchess of Sussex, which 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."
However, Prince Andrew appears to be resisting the prospect of relocating to Frogmore Cottage, despite the offer being made following previous rejections. The insider revealed that the Duke of York is "taking longer than desirable" to "recognise the reality of the situation."
As the Frogmore feud continues to unfold, it is becoming increasingly clear that King Charles is sending a powerful message to both Prince Andrew and Prince Harry regarding their positions within the royal family. By urging his brother to vacate the Royal Lodge and relocate to the smaller Frogmore Cottage, the monarch is not only signaling his disapproval of Andrew's past actions but also emphasizing that Prince Harry, as a non-working royal, will not be welcomed back to his former residence.
Moreover, the King's determination to prepare the Royal Lodge for Prince William and Kate highlights his focus on the future of the monarchy and his desire to ensure that his heir and daughter-in-law have a suitable and regal residence befitting their roles within the royal family.