Prince Andrew is reportedly determined to save lots of his pricey palatial Royal Lodge – even when it means looking for work.
The declare was made by British broadcaster and photographer Helena Chard, who mentioned the disgraced Duke of York is “clinging on to Royal Lodge for pricey life” as he struggles to safe sufficient cash to take care of the royal property.
Fox Information Digital reached out to Buckingham Palace for remark.
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Prince Andrew is reportedly struggling to seek out work, which might assist him preserve the pricey repairs of Royal Lodge. (Steve Parsons/Getty Photos)
“Prince Andrew has little selection of labor, as most individuals gained’t contact him,” Chard claimed. “There have been murmurs of him finishing up the huge backyard upkeep required. Nevertheless, with out assist, this might be an inconceivable process. Andrew would additionally see this work as beneath him. Handbook work is a far cry from his once-glamorous way of life.”
A UK property professional not too long ago claimed that the 65-year-old is dealing with a $190,000 invoice to cease the Royal Lodge property from “spiraling uncontrolled.”
“With out common consideration, an overgrowth can shortly spiral uncontrolled, requiring skilled intervention to revive order,” Terry Fisher instructed GB Information.
Prince Andrew has reportedly been compelled to develop a inexperienced thumb so he can preserve his personal gardens. (Reuters/Neil Corridor)
“Sustaining 21 acres of gardens at a property like Royal Lodge would usually require a devoted workforce of 4 to 6 gardeners, relying on the complexity of the landscaping,” Fisher defined.
“Prices can range, however hiring skilled gardeners may vary from $37,000 to $50,000 yearly per gardener, which means the full annual upkeep invoice may simply exceed $190,000.”
“This might cowl routine duties like mowing, pruning, planting and normal repairs to make sure the grounds stay in prime situation,” added Fisher.
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Prince Andrew reportedly lives in Royal Lodge along with his ex-wife, Sarah Ferguson. (Chris Jackson/Getty Photos)
Chard claimed that an embarrassed Andrew is making an attempt to lie low as immense scrutiny surrounds the royal property. She famous that Andrew would want to safe funds shortly to take care of the “dilapidated” residence.
“Andrew must make tens of millions to cowl the maintenance,” she claimed. “Work is fairly nonexistent, nicely, skinny on the bottom as his popularity is in tatters. . . . Securing adequate monies since King Charles withdrew his funding has been a continuing fear.”
In 2019, Andrew introduced that he was stepping again from public duties “for the foreseeable future” due to his affiliation with intercourse offender Jeffrey Epstein. The son of Queen Elizabeth II mentioned his historical past with Epstein had disrupted his household’s work and “the dear work happening within the many organizations and charities that I’m proud to help.”
Prince Andrew was mentioned to be Queen Elizabeth II’s favourite son. England’s longest-reigning monarch handed away in 2022 at age 96. (Chris Jackson/Getty Photos)
The prince mentioned he regretted his ties to the billionaire investor, who took his personal life that yr whereas in jail on intercourse trafficking costs.
The UK’s DailyMail not too long ago reported that Andrew has been tending to the gardens of Royal Lodge to pinch pennies. The 30-room mansion is reportedly surrounded by shrubbery and woodland.
Beforehand, it was reported that King Charles III ordered valuable artifacts to be faraway from Andrew’s residence, as a result of upkeep and safety issues. Now, solely empty cabinets are reportedly seen the place the expensive relics had been as soon as proudly displayed.
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Royal specialists declare that King Charles III and Prince Andrew have a strained relationship following the scandals which have adopted the Duke of York. (Dan Kitwood/Max Mumby/Indigo/Getty Photos)
Us Weekly additionally reported that the sprawling Nineteenth-century property is confronted with dampness points, in addition to “put on and tear” that’s ravaging the constructing. It famous that “cracks have gotten worse on the brickwork,” and there’s peeling paint, together with plaster falling off.Â
Like the house, Andrew’s “trials and tribulations will proceed to unravel,” Chard claimed.
“He has made unwise friendships and selections however nonetheless has to safe cash to take care of the house he loves dearly,” she mentioned.
Prince Andrew has tried to maintain a low profile since he stepped again from public duties in 2019. (Daniel Leal/AFP through Getty Photos)
Andrew has lived at Royal Lodge since 2004. He at the moment resides there along with his ex-wife, Sarah Ferguson.
In line with stories, he has spent over $9 million on repairs and renovations through the years and $1 million to take it over. His annual hire is a reported $337,000.
The Sunday Instances reported that the king didn’t renew the contract for Andrew’s non-public safety workforce. The monarch had been paying for Andrew’s safety after the prince misplaced his police safety in 2022. The safety workforce is alleged to value the king almost $4 million yearly. Â
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Prince Andrew has reportedly refused to relocate to Frogmore Cottage, the previous UK residence of the Duke and Duchess of Sussex. (Getty Photos)
On the time, a spokesperson for Buckingham Palace instructed Fox Information Digital that the palace wouldn’t touch upon “safety issues.”
“Andrew has not been seen publicly with King Charles III,” British royals professional Hilary Fordwich instructed Fox Information Digital. “This isn’t accidentally. Little within the royal family occurs accidentally. It’s completely deliberate, as King Charles is doing every thing doable to distance himself from his scandal-ridden brother.”
“The scenario concerning repairs has develop into untenable,” Fordwich claimed. “Among the harm to the property will probably be nearly irreparable, standing as a visible metaphor for the disintegration of the connection between brothers.”
King Charles III was topped in Might 2023. (Yui Mok/Pool through Reuters)
Nonetheless, Chard claimed that the royal household is hopeful that Andrew will discover a strategy to discover scandal-free work to take care of his residence and, finally, revamp his popularity.
“Prince Andrew’s speedy household are rooting for him and can do their greatest to assist the place doable,” Chard claimed. “They’re nonetheless hopeful that he’ll rise from the ashes like a phoenix.”
Charlotte Griffiths, the Mail on Sunday’s editor-at-large, reported in November that the monarch was extending a beneficiant olive department to his brother and paying his hire. It is believed that is what their late mom, Queen Elizabeth II, would have wished. For years, it has been mentioned that Andrew was her favourite son.
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Ingrid Seward, editor-in-chief of Majesty journal and creator of “My Mom and I,” agreed with Griffith’s scoop.Â
“There’s completely little question that Charles is the one who’s offering the cash for Andrew, as a result of the [late] queen wouldn’t have left Andrew bereft,” Seward beforehand defined to Fox Information Digital.
“She would’ve made a provision for him, and possibly that provision got here via his elder brother as monarch,” she shared. “When the king dies or the queen dies, the cash goes to the following monarch. Every little thing goes to the following monarch. So, she both would have made provisions for Andrew earlier than she died, or she would’ve made provisions via Charles.”
Jeffrey Epstein (proper) is seen right here with Prince Andrew. (Getty Photos)
“I imagine that Charles helps him,” Seward continued. “I don’t see who else would. I’m positive [Andrew’s ex-wife] Fergie would assist him. I do know Fergie does very nicely along with her books, however I [can’t] think about she would make sufficient to run Royal Lodge on her personal.”
“I actually assume that the one one who may actually be doing that is both monies from the queen or monies from the king,” she mentioned.
The editor additionally claimed that somebody at a “glamorous — and often ultra-discreet — dinner desk” instructed her that “Charles has paid for all of it.”
Earlier than her demise, Queen Elizabeth II stripped Andrew of his royal duties and charity roles. (Alastair Grant – WPA Pool/Getty Photos)
“The King has cleared it. It is all performed,” the supply claimed.
The palace insider, “who’s been a visitor at Royal Lodge in years passed by,” claimed that not solely did Charles deal with the funds, however not one of the funds got here from taxpayer cash.
The Sunday Instances beforehand reported that Andrew had raised sufficient cash to remain in Royal Lodge. In line with the outlet, the prince’s funds had been authorised by the Keeper of the Privy Purse as coming from “legit sources.”
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Prince Andrew stands at eighth place within the royal pecking order. (Reuters/Chris Radburn/File Picture)
“The Duke of York, or Prince Andrew as we prefer to name him, all the time lived in a palace,” mentioned Seward. “He lived in Buckingham Palace, after which his residence was Royal Lodge, which is a really grand residence — and he doesn’t wish to go away it.”
“I believe King Charles . . . mentioned to him, ‘Andrew, it will be so a lot better in case you moved out of Royal Lodge and moved into Frogmore Cottage [the former UK home of the Duke and Duchess of Sussex] . . . as a result of it’s been modernized inside. It’s been fantastically performed up. It’s straightforward to run. It’s not costly to run. And also you’re throughout the safety of the Windsor Fortress compound, so it’s not going to value tens of millions in safety.’ However Andrew mentioned, ‘No, I wish to keep right here.’”
A number of royal specialists imagine Prince Andrew’s future appears to be like bleak. (Picture by Karwai Tang/WireImage/Getty Photos)
Seward burdened that rigorous repairs — and loads of funds — are required to maintain the royal property in tip-top form.
“It’s not just a bit home in the course of nowhere,” mentioned Seward. “It’s big and subsequently wants plenty of repairs. However I believe that there’s no manner he and Charles would’ve had a row about it, as a result of Charles isn’t like that.”
“He wouldn’t have mentioned, ‘You’ve bought to get out,'” Seward insisted. “He would’ve prompt why it will be simpler to get out. And Andrew mentioned, ‘No, I wish to keep.’ So, Charles mentioned, ‘Fantastic, however I’m going to should take away this very costly safety, and we’ll want to seek out another.'”
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“The Crown Property would’ve cherished to get Andrew out of Royal Lodge, as a result of they might hire the entire thing,” mentioned Seward. “It must be seen as creating wealth. And so long as Andrew lives in Royal Lodge, that’s stopping them from making as a lot as they might. It’s simply too unhealthy that he’s the late queen’s second son.”
Whereas the duke secured an actual property win, Seward famous, “I don’t assume the long run holds something for Prince Andrew.”
The Related Press contributed to this report.
