Defiant Prince Andrew ‘vows to stay in Royal Lodge’ despite King Charles axing his yearly £1million allowance
PRINCE Andrew appeared defiant yesterday as sources said he has vowed to stay put in the Royal Lodge despite the King cutting off his yearly allowance.
The Duke of York, 64, was seen driving near his 30-room home in Windsor Great Park after it was revealed that his brother Charles has reportedly removed his £1 million-a-year budget.
A source told The Sun on Sunday that Andrew, who was stripped of his roles and patronages by his mother after forking out millions to settle Virginia Giuffre’s sex claims case, is refusing to budge from the palatial house.
They said: “Prince Andrew is holding firm and is determined to stay in the Royal Lodge.
“He is insistent that he has the funds to pay for his own security, despite the eyewatering seven-figure sum it is reportedly costing him.
“He is no longer a financial burden on the King and sees no reason why he should have to move from his home.”
Royal writer Robert Hardman claims in his new book that Charles, 75, has instructed the Keeper of the Privy Purse to completely remove financial ties with his scandal-hit brother.
The Sun on Sunday previously revealed Charles had laid off the Royal Lodge’s ten-strong security team.
It is understood Andrew will have to pay out of his own pocket for the upkeep of his property, including his security, the protection of works of art and furniture borrowed from the Royal Collection.
Hardman also alleges the late Queen would have reluctantly booted disgraced Andrew out of Royal Lodge and into Frogmore Cottage if she were still alive.
It is understood plans were being drawn up to remove her rumoured favourite from his Windsor home in 2023, the year after her death.
In one incident from 2016, Hardman claims that the Duke of York rammed the gates of the historic property with his Range Rover when they were broken, rather than drive round and use another entrance.
It has also been claimed that he would insist that any “personal friends” of the Duke would not need security clearance to enter the estate – which is how the BBC Newsnight team got in to record his infamous interview.
The latest claims are in an updated edition of Charles III: New King. New Court. The Inside Story.