Book Claims King Has Ended Prince Andrew’s Financial Support

An updated royal biography indicates that King Charles, the Duke of York’s brother, has ceased providing financial support to Prince Andrew. Prince Andrew had previously faced financial strain due to the expenses associated with maintaining Royal Lodge, his 30-room residence in Windsor. However, royal author Robert Hardman now asserts that the King has made a decision to discontinue funding for security at Prince Andrew’s residence and to halt his personal allowance. These combined expenditures are estimated to total several million pounds annually. Buckingham Palace has chosen not to comment on the allegations presented in the book, which the Daily Mail is currently serialising. The assertion regarding the cessation of Prince Andrew’s income appears in a revised edition of King Charles’s biography, authored by royal writer Robert Hardman. The book states that the Keeper of the Privy Purse, responsible for managing royal finances, has received directives to terminate Prince Andrew’s personal allowance and security provisions. The BBC had previously understood that the King was disinclined to provide indefinite financial support to Prince Andrew; however, this new information implies that a definitive decision to withdraw his funding has now been reached. Prince Andrew, who currently lacks an official spokesperson, has not yet addressed the reports concerning the loss of this financial backing. This development would necessitate that he personally cover the maintenance and security expenses for Royal Lodge, a 19th-century listed building situated in Windsor. The upkeep of this substantial property, leased from the Crown Estate, is anticipated to incur significant costs. This financial strain on the prince follows the release this year of two distinct films—produced by Netflix and Amazon—which focused on his 2019 BBC Newsnight interview, where he was interrogated regarding his associations with US sex offender Jeffrey Epstein. The prince relinquished his duties as a working royal, subsequently forfeiting his military titles and royal patronages, and retreated to a private existence at Royal Lodge. One commentator characterized him as “de-royalled”. While the King is reportedly now acting on the funding issue, sources had previously indicated that this matter has been part of a broader, long-standing discussion, predating the King’s ascension, concerning the future living arrangements and financial provisions for 64-year-old Prince Andrew. Instead of the spacious Royal Lodge, formerly inhabited by the Queen Mother, a proposal has been made for the prince to relocate to the more modest Frogmore Cottage, previously home to Prince Harry and Meghan, due to its significantly reduced maintenance and security expenses. Frogmore Cottage’s occupancy is subject to the monarch’s discretion, whereas Royal Lodge is a leased asset, independently owned by the Crown Estate, and could potentially be utilized for alternative commercial ventures. However, the prince holds a personal lease for Royal Lodge, valid until 2078, and if he is able to cover his own expenses, he is entitled to stay in the residence he has shared with his ex-wife Sarah. In 2003, when the prince acquired the lease for Royal Lodge, he made substantial upfront payments, which have resulted in reduced long-term costs for him, thereby diminishing the motivation to vacate the property at present. The residence required renovation, and he undertook initial repairs exceeding £7.5m. Additionally, a single payment of £2.5m was made to effectively purchase the annual rental obligation. Furthermore, he made a one-time payment of £1m to his landlords, the Crown Estate, as documented by the National Audit Office. However, a specific clause stipulated that if he departed the property within 25 years from the lease’s commencement, he would be eligible for compensation for his initial repair expenditures, with this sum decreasing annually. Given that fewer than four years remain on that agreement, he would recover only a small portion of the £7.5m he invested in the house’s renovation, providing another reason for him not to surrender his lease. Nevertheless, significant security and maintenance costs persist, and Robert Hardman’s book asserts that the King will cease to cover these expenses. He cites a source who stated: “The duke is no longer a financial burden on the King.” The book, titled Charles III: New King. New Court. The Inside Story by Robert Hardman, is scheduled for publication by Macmillan on 7 November.