Princess Eugenie and Princess Beatrice’s father, Prince Andrew, appears to have come out victorious in a long-standing dispute with his brother, King Charles III, over the future of his residence, Royal Lodge.
According to Daily Express UK, as cited by Marie Claire, the Duke of York is “set to be all smiles” after reportedly winning the battle to remain in the sprawling Windsor estate. The report suggests the monarch had attempted to persuade his younger brother, a non-working royal, to move out of the 30-room property and into smaller accommodations.
“Prince Andrew is set to be all smiles,” the publication stated, having “won the row with Charles.” King Charles had previously made efforts to reassign Andrew to Frogmore Cottage, formerly the UK home of Prince Harry and Meghan Markle, after stripping Andrew of his taxpayer-funded private security. The move was viewed by many as part of the King’s broader efforts to slim down the monarchy and reduce royal expenses.
However, Andrew reportedly resisted the proposal, opting to stay at Royal Lodge, the estate he has called home since 2004. The Duke of York signed a 75-year lease on the property in 2003, an agreement made through the Crown Estate, making it legally difficult to force him out.
Despite growing public scrutiny over the use of royal residences and taxpayer funds, Prince Andrew stood firm in his position. Royal insiders have said the Duke is determined to retain his long-time home and has refused all relocation offers—including the one from his brother.
The Royal Lodge dispute had a ripple effect, particularly for the Prince and Princess of Wales, who were reportedly eyed as potential new residents of the estate. Relocating William, Kate, and their children to Royal Lodge would have placed them in closer proximity to Windsor Castle and aligned with the King’s desire to optimize royal properties for senior working royals.
In light of Andrew’s apparent victory, reports from The Mail on Sunday now suggest that Prince William and Princess Kate might instead consider moving from their current home, Adelaide Cottage, to Fort Belvedere a grand, gothic-revival mansion also located within Windsor Great Park.
The decision to allow Prince Andrew to remain at Royal Lodge may signal the King’s willingness to maintain family harmony, despite ongoing efforts to streamline the royal household. As tensions cool for now, it appears Prince Andrew has successfully held his ground—at least when it comes to real estate.