The Duke of York's battle to keep his home of 20 years at Royal Lodge on the Windsor Estate still remains far from over as OK! can exclusively reveal that Queen Elizabeth made provisions in her will to allow her second son to stay at the home.
Following ongoing reports that King Charles wishes to downsize the number of properties that make up the royal portfolio, it was suggested that Prince Andrew could move into the slightly smaller Frogmore Cottage – the former home of Prince Harry and Meghan.
After it surfaced that the Duke is fearful of moving out of his home while work is completed on the roof in case he is evicted in that time, we can reveal why the late monarch's son will be able to keep his home in Windsor – and it's all thanks to Queen Elizabeth.
Inheritance money from the late monarch has made it possible for Prince Andrew to come up with a six-figure sum to make much-needed repairs to his Royal Lodge home, OK! can reveal.
According to a source close to the Duke, Prince Andrew, along with several other members of the royal family, were included in her late Majesty’s will and, as a result, Andrew is now able to pay for the upkeep of his beloved Royal Lodge.
“There was money left to the family by the Queen,” the source explained. “Details of the exact amounts and to whom will never be revealed because the papers have been sealed. But that’s where Andrew is getting the money from to repair Royal Lodge.”
“He’s been quite open about where the money has come from because he doesn’t want people to think he has come up with it through other means.”
Royal Lodge is a Grade II listed home on the Windsor Estate in Berkshire and is just a five mile drive from the Queen's home of Windsor Castle. It was built in the mid-seventeenth century and did not have a permanent royal resident until the 1930s when The Duke and Duchess of York were granted it by King George V.
The Queen Mother continued to use the lodge after King George VI's death in 1952 and died there on March 30, 2002 with the Queen by her side. Following the Queen Mother's death, the property was leased to Prince Andrew in 2003 and he was required to pay for any and all renovations himself.
It is thought that the costs of the improvements rose above £7.5 million. Along with the main house, the lease included the Gardener's Cottage, the Chapel Lodge, six Lodge Cottages, police security accommodation and 40 hectares of land.
The Duke is said to be relieved that he can now finally have the expensive repair work completed but has refused to move out while construction is underway.
The source added: “Andrew has been advised that it’s best that he moves out while the work is undertaken because the house is virtually a building site, but he’s refused. He’s terrified that the property might be seized in his absence.”
Although the keys to nearby Frogmore Cottage were handed to Andrew to vacate Royal Lodge on a permanent basis earlier this year, he has no plans to move in and is said to be allowing his daughter Princess Eugenie to reside there until the situation can be resolved.
“He’s allowing Eugenie to stay in Frogmore cottage even though the home was meant for him. She’s just given birth to her second child so while she recovers and gets back on her feet, she’s staying in Frogmore to be near her mum and dad.”
Former BBC royal correspondent Jennie Bond spoke to OK! about the way Prince Andrew has dug his heels in and refused to move from Royal Lodge.
The expert told us: "Although I have some sympathy with a man being asked to downsize from the home that’s been his for so many years, I suspect that, for Andrew, this is all about status."
Then, referring to the long-standing suggestion that The Prince and Princess of Wales and their three children would move in if Andrew were to vacate Royal Lodge, Jennie added: "He probably resents being asked to move out and make room for his nephew’s family as this will absolutely rub salt in wound.
"It becomes almost comical if it is true that he is now afraid to move out temporarily while roof repairs are done in case he’s now allowed back! Andrew is a stubborn, proud man who is nursing a grievance, so I reckon he’s going to dig his heels in for as long as he possibly can."
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