Prince Andrew 'could hand King Charles huge financial boost' with Royal Lodge decision

Prince Andrew could hand King Charles a financial boost should he decide to vacate Royal Lodge.

The King and his younger brother are currently involved in a stand-off over Andrew’s future at the 30-room mansion. Andrew signed a 75-year lease with the Crown Estate in 2003.

As part of the lease he has to fund the maintenance of the massive country residence. However, the property was said to be in a state of disrepair as questions were raised about the Duke of York’s ability to fund the work.

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Andrew stepped down as a working royal after concerns were raised about his relationship with disgraced financier Jeffrey Epstein and the subsequent Newsnight interview. It meant Andrew’s main source of income was said to be his modest military pension.

And with the King reportedly pulling the security funding, Andrew was left having to foot the bill to keep his home safe. He however is said to have secured enough money to remain at the Great Windsor Park property.

Should Andrew decide to vacate the property, royal expert Emily Andrews believes it could give the King a financial boost by being rented out privately via the Crown Estate. The King reportedly earned £45 million from the Crown Estate’s £1.1bn profit last year.

Speaking on Channel 5’s The Battle for Royal Lodge: Andrew vs Charles, she said: “It is a stand-off that I don’t see nearing any kind of resolution. I think Andrew will want to remain at Royal Lodge for as long as he possibly can.

“I think if he does move out, it might be rented out for commercial rent which would bring in more money for the Crown Estate and then, of course, indirectly more money to Charles.

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Expert Jennie Bond however believes another set of royals could move into Royal Lodge if Andrew were to move out. She added: “I personally think it would seem to be a very suitable place in the future for the Prince and Princess of Wales.

“I think William and Catherine, at the moment, are very happy where they are but in the years to come it would seem to be quite a reasonable proposition that they would want to move into Royal Lodge.”

Biographer Gareth Russell argues that Royal Lodge is now associated with “senior working members of the Royal Family” after Queen Elizabeth II was raised there by her mother. Russell suspects it would either be given to a senior member of The Firm or “subdivided” into smaller residences.

The Battle for Royal Lodge: Andrew vs Charles airs on Channel 5 on Saturday (January 25) at 8pm.