Prince Andrew is refusing to depart his Windsor residence and royal knowledgeable says his “selfish” behaviour may threaten King Charles’ coronation.
The Duke of York has instructed pals he won’t be able to afford the maintenance on his grace-and-favour mansion when his annual grant of £249,000 grant is slashed in April, reported The Sun.
He is one among a variety of royals whose working prices will likely be reduce now that King Charles is in command of the purse strings following the dying of the Queen.
The unpopular royal has a 60-plus yr lease on the 30-room mansion and reportedly pays simply £250-a-week for it.
MP Norman Baker, an knowledgeable in royal funds instructed, MailOnline: “It’s time Andrew started living within his means rather than expecting other people to subsidise his luxurious lifestyle.
“If he can’t pay a commercial rent for the property with his own money, he should be evicted and relocate to somewhere much smaller.
“The taxpayer is subsidising him.”
Biographer and investigative journalist Tom Bower stated: “Andrew’s selfish behaviour threatens King Charles’ reputation and even the coronation.
“He thinks that he can brazen out the bad predicament he himself created. By issuing threats, he is playing with fire.
“The King’s best solution is to force Andrew out of the vast house, accept much more modest accommodation and persuade him that his bid for rehabilitation is pointless – and in the end will be self-destructive.
“Not only for himself but also his two daughters.”
The Duke lives in Royal Lodge with ex-wife Sarah Ferguson, and the pair are believed to be distraught they’ve been given such type discover to depart the palatial property.
It is believed that the pair may transfer right into a £5 million mews home purchased by Fergie in 2022.
The up-market Belgravia pad has had an entire overhaul and sources near her say that it was an “investment property” for daughters Beatrice, 34, and Eugenie, 32.
Ferguson paid money for the London residence, and it’s thought the property could be rented out to tenants.
One insider stated: “They are looking to keep it empty to use themselves.”
“It’s a far cry from a mansion on the Windsor estate, but this is their only London property.”
Royal commentator Richard Fitzwilliams stated: “What the royal family do with a problem like Andrew is unclear.
“He has, as far can be seen, absolutely no intention of undertaking charitable duties, as the Queen reportedly suggested, in search of future redemption, since he sees no reason for penance. In the court of public opinion he is already guilty.
“Yet it would appear he has, or will have, access to very considerable funds.
“King Charles may reduce his grant.
“It seems, however, extremely unlikely that he will change his lifestyle, however reprehensible it may appear to the public.”
An insider instructed The Mirror: ‘He [said] he’s not leaving, there is no such thing as a probability that may occur and even when the King wished him how would that work?
“If [the King] wants to spend millions reimbursing him for the money he’s already spent on the property, that’s another matter.’
“Could you imagine a situation where the Duke threatens to sue his brother, the King, over money. It would be unthinkable.”
This article initially appeared on The Sun and has been republished with permission.
Source: www.news.com.au
