Prince Andrew is reportedly planning to pass down the lease of Royal Lodge to his daughters, Princesses Beatrice and Eugenie. This decision comes amid an ongoing dispute between the Duke of York and the monarch over the future of the sprawling Windsor estate, while his ex-wife Sarah Ferguson has firmly dismissed rumors of a potential remarriage.
According to sources close to the situation, Prince Andrew has been exploring ways to honor the terms of his 75-year lease agreement with the Crown Estate, signed in 2003, which still has 54 years remaining. The Daily Mail reports that while Andrew would "prefer" to leave the property to Sarah Ferguson, who currently resides there with him, the lease specifies that it can only be passed to his children or his widow – a status that a divorced wife cannot claim.
Amidst the property dispute, speculation has arisen about the possibility of Prince Andrew and Sarah Ferguson remarrying to solidify their claim on Royal Lodge. However, Ferguson recently put these rumors to rest in a candid interview with Bella Magazine. "I get asked that all the time," she stated. "We are very happy as we are now, thank you!" The Duchess of York's firm stance on the matter suggests that the former couple has no plans to alter their current living arrangement or marital status.
Ferguson reflected on her experience joining the royal family, noting that her "life changed forever when I married into the royal family." Despite the challenges and controversies surrounding their relationship, Ferguson and Andrew have maintained a close bond since their divorce in 1996, co-parenting their daughters and sharing a residence at Royal Lodge.
The Duchess has been vocal about her continued support for Prince Andrew, even in the face of his recent controversies. In a previous interview on ITV's Loose Women, she emphasized their enduring connection, saying, "We are longer divorced than married and I believe in the three C's: communicate, compromise and compassion." This unwavering support, coupled with their shared living arrangement, has fueled ongoing speculation about their relationship status.
However, Ferguson's recent comments make it clear that while she values her relationship with Andrew and their daughters, remarriage is not on the horizon. Her focus appears to be on maintaining their current dynamic and supporting their family, rather than rekindling their marriage in a legal sense.
This development comes as King Charles has been urging his younger brother to vacate Royal Lodge and downsize to Frogmore Cottage, the former UK residence of Prince Harry and Meghan Markle. The King's efforts to evict Andrew from the property have thus far been unsuccessful, with the Duke steadfastly refusing to leave.
The ongoing feud has financial implications as well. Cameron Walker, GB News' Royal Correspondent, revealed on The Royal Record podcast that King Charles currently funds a significant portion of Andrew's living expenses at Royal Lodge. "Because he's not a working member of the Royal Family, he is not getting any money from a sovereign grant," Walker explained. "We believe he may have got some kind of inheritance from the late Queen, but it's not thought to be very much."
Walker added that the majority of Andrew's expenses are currently being covered by King Charles, who "controls the purse strings." This includes the cost of security for Royal Lodge, which falls outside the guarded perimeter of Windsor Castle and requires its own separate protection.
Prince Andrew's decision to potentially bequeath the Royal Lodge lease to Princesses Beatrice and Eugenie represents a significant escalation in his dispute with King Charles. By ensuring that the property remains within his immediate family, Andrew appears to be defying his brother's wishes and securing a long-term royal residence for his daughters.
As this royal rift deepens, questions arise about the broader implications for the monarchy and the relationship between the King and his siblings. With both parties seemingly entrenched in their positions, a resolution to the Royal Lodge dispute remains elusive, potentially setting the stage for further family tensions in the years to come.