Prince Andrew may be able to seek reimbursement if he is forced to leave Royal Lodge, according to reports. King Charles has told the Firm to expect the purse strings to be tightened as he reviews how the Privy Purse is spent, with the Duke’s annual grant of £249,000 set to be slashed.
However, Andrew could be spared from eviction due to the terms of him maintaining the Lodge, located in Windsor Great Park.
Upon signing the lease for Royal Lodge in 2003 Andrew spent £7.5million of his own money on refurbishing the property.
Because of this, the Firm waived any rent that would be due to be paid, with the Crown Estate liable to reimburse him if he is forced to leave before 2028.
The Duke has lived at Royal Lodge with his ex-wife Sarah Ferguson since 2008, with her also keeping a £5million townhouse in London.
Andrew also has a sizeable inheritance from the Queen, the Duke of Edinburgh and the Queen Mother.
The kitchens at Windsor Castle also supply the Lodge with free meals, which is only three miles away from the castle on the royal estate.
Ephraim Hardcastle wrote in the Daily Mail: “The pummelling of the disgraced prince’s wallet, threatened by his brother, is hardly terminal.”
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Another source told the Mail on Sunday: “This is about Charles telling Andrew that he can use his own money to pay for things.
“The same goes for other members of the family, such as Princesses Beatrice and Eugenie.
“And while there is leniency with working members of the family, who have offices funded by the Sovereign Grant, there have been other examples.
“Sophie and Edward’s daughter Lady Louise, for example, inherited Prince Philip’s carriage but Charles doesn’t feel like he should pay for the upkeep of the ponies to pull the carriage.”
