Prince Andrew refusing to leave 30-room mansion in new row with King Charles ‘who wants to give home to William’
PRINCE Andrew is refusing to vacate his 30-room mansion in a fresh row with the King.
Earlier this year it was revealed that Charles was slashing the £250,000 subsidy Andrew received from the late Queen Elizabeth.
It meant the Duke of York, 63, would struggle to afford the running costs of Royal Lodge at Windsor, Berks.
However, friends of Andrew say the prince is determined to stay put.
One said: “This has been his family home for the last 20 years. Is it really sensible to kick him out?
“He’s concerned that now the coronation is over, the knives are out. But we’re dealing with human beings, not real estate.”
Andrew and ex-wife Sarah Ferguson’s daughters, Beatrice and Eugenie, are regular visitors.
Another friend said: ‘Eugenie is heavily pregnant and her parents expect to have the new grandchild there this summer.”
Courtiers widely believe that plans have been drawn up to allow Prince William and his family to eventually move into the vast property.
Charles has previously claimed Andrew should move to nearby Frogmore Cottage — Prince Harry and Meghan’s former home.
Palace chiefs were said to have initially set a September deadline to vacate Royal Lodge.
However, they now accept that this is too early.
Andrew is said to be keen to strike a compromise.
A pal said: “If Charles wants Andrew to play ball and help the family, aren’t there better ways of going about it?
“Why not do the decent thing, sit down and talk? If they need the house for William, perhaps Andrew should be told. Perhaps William should invite his uncle for tea and explain?
“Or why doesn’t Charles invite his brother for a meeting and ask him if he’d leave Royal Lodge to help his nephew and the future of the monarchy.
“And agree a schedule acceptable to both sides?”
Andrew was forced to step down from royal duties in the wake of the Jeffrey Epstein scandal.
Last year he paid a reported £12million settlement to Virginia Guiffre, who accused him of sleeping with her while a teenager — which he denied.