Prince Andrew’s future at Royal Lodge appears increasingly uncertain as reports suggest King Charles III has decided not to renew the Duke of York’s private security contract, set to expire this fall. According to The Sun on Sunday, no replacement security arrangements have been made, signaling a potential shift in Andrew’s living situation.
Sources indicate that King Charles, despite his ongoing battle with cancer, has been footing the bill for Andrew’s security at Royal Lodge since the prince lost his police protection in 2022. The cost of this private security detail is said to be nearly $4 million annually. Buckingham Palace has declined to comment on the matter, citing their policy of not discussing security issues.
Royal experts have suggested that the king is keen for Andrew to leave the sprawling 31-room Royal Lodge, where he currently resides with his ex-wife, Sarah Ferguson. The property, valued at approximately $37 million, has been Andrew’s home since 2003, when he reportedly paid over $1 million to take over the lease. Over the years, Andrew has invested more than $9 million in repairs and renovations and continues to pay an annual rent of around $337,000. The maintenance of the property is estimated to cost $503,000 annually.
However, it seems King Charles is pressing Andrew to move into the smaller Frogmore Cottage, the former U.K. residence of Prince Harry and Meghan Markle. The cottage has remained vacant since the couple was asked to vacate over a year ago. Moving to Frogmore Cottage could offer Andrew enhanced security, as it is within the protected grounds of Windsor Castle. But despite these considerations, Andrew is reportedly resisting the move, insisting on staying at Royal Lodge.
The king’s determination to have Andrew downsize could come to a head soon. As Charles begins his annual summer retreat at Balmoral Castle, where he was welcomed with a small ceremony on August 19, there are reports that Andrew will join him for discussions. Kinsey Schofield, host of the To Di For Daily podcast, has previously stated that palace insiders are frustrated with Andrew’s stubbornness. “Prince Andrew does not need such a large home,” Schofield told Fox News Digital. “His reluctance to move is creating additional security expenses and maintenance costs that are simply unsustainable.”
Schofield added that King Charles’s push to relocate Andrew to Frogmore Cottage is part of a broader effort to streamline and simplify royal finances. “Millions of dollars have already been spent on updating and modernizing Frogmore Cottage, making it more than suitable for Andrew’s needs,” she explained. “But Andrew’s sense of entitlement and his belief that the late Queen Elizabeth promised him Royal Lodge has made him resistant to change.”
Andrew’s position within the royal family has been precarious since he stepped back from official duties in 2019 following his controversial association with convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein. In addition to losing his honorary military titles, he was stripped of his royal patronages and barred from using the title “his royal highness” in any official capacity. His reputation took a further hit when Virginia Roberts Giuffre filed a lawsuit against him in 2020, accusing him of sexual abuse when she was 17—a claim Andrew has vehemently denied. The lawsuit was settled in 2022 with Andrew making a substantial donation to Giuffre’s charity.
As the royal family grapples with these ongoing issues, Andrew’s future at Royal Lodge remains uncertain. With King Charles’s health reportedly fragile, the pressure on Andrew to comply with the king’s wishes could intensify in the coming months.
