Buckingham Palace will be keen to avoid a lengthy parliamentary inquiry into any matter affecting royal finances, which has given greater urgency to the issue of resolving Andrew’s deal.
On the question of where the Prince will live if he leaves Royal Lodge, the simplest solution would be to house him in one of the King’s private estates, most likely Sandringham or Balmoral, where he could have use of one of the many self-contained houses on either estate. That would allow him to live rent-free and at no cost to the public treasury.
Activists organize a protest at the entrance to Windsor Great Park and the Royal Lodge where Prince Andrew lives.Credit: fake images
But Andrew is not willing to go into exile to Norfolk or Scotland and wants to stay in London or Windsor, close to his daughters.
Moving him to a smaller property on the Windsor estate would minimize public outrage over his taxpayer-subsidized life of luxury, but he would have to pay rent he might not be able to afford.
Moving him to Windsor Castle or Buckingham Palace would also risk accusations that he is being rewarded rather than punished, and there would be a cost to the public purse for housing him in buildings that belong to the nation.
Meanwhile, there is also the question of what would happen to Royal Lodge, as its proximity to Windsor Castle makes it difficult, if not impossible, to rent privately.
Under the terms of the lease, which he signed in 2003, the Prince is entitled to a refund of some of the money he paid up front, which included a £1 million payment for the 75-year lease and more than £7.5 million in renovation costs. If you leave before next June you will receive a refund of £557,596, which is reduced by £185,865 each year until 2028, when you will be owed nothing.
The prince has argued all along that it makes no sense for him to walk away from a property that cost him around £10m before he even moved in, and which has cost him millions more in upkeep since, regardless of the rent waiver.
That means he is likely to demand much more than the money he is legally owed, which could have to be funded by the King, as the Crown Estate answers to the Treasury, which is unlikely to allow public money to be used.
Charging
The living conditions of Andrew’s ex-wife, Sarah Ferguson, who has her own rooms at Royal Lodge, are an added complication. It is unclear whether she would move in with the Prince or find a place to live alone.
It is understood that the Prince of Wales has wanted to stay out of the negotiations, as he maintains good relations with his cousins Beatrice and Eugenie, but has made it clear that he wants the matter to be resolved.
In recent days, Prince William and the king have made it clear through their representatives that Beatrice and Eugenie are not to blame for the scandal and that their homes in the royal palaces are safe.
In a further blow to Prince Andrew, his royal standard has been removed from St George’s Chapel at Windsor Castle. It was related to his membership in the Order of the Garter, which he resigned from last week.
The Telegraph, London
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