Copyright Showbiz Cheat Sheet
Prince Andrew is changing his address – and changing his name. On Thursday, Buckingham Palace confirmed that the disgraced royal would move out of Royal Lodge, the 30-room mansion he shares with his ex-wife, Sarah Ferguson. Andrew has been living rent-free in the home in Windsor Park since 2003. In addition to booting his younger brother from Royal Lodge, King Charles has also begun the “formal process to remove the style, titles and honours of Prince Andrew.” Going forward, the prince – who remains eighth in line to the throne – will be known as Andrew Mountbatten Windsor. The announcement is the latest blow for Andrew, who recently announced that he’d agreed to stop using his Duke of York title. The demotion comes under renewed scrutiny of the prince’s ties to sex offender Jeffrey Epstein. Prince Andrew paid virtually nothing to live in Royal Lodge Andrew struck a sweetheart deal when he settled at Royal Lodge more than 20 years ago. He paid the crown just £1 million to move into the home, which was formerly occupied by his grandmother, the Queen Mother. His annual rent was a token payment of one peppercorn a year. In exchange for getting a deal on his new digs, Andrew agreed to shoulder the cost of renovating the mansion, which was badly in need of repairs, according to the BBC. He spent at least £7.5 million to update the property. The terms of his 75-year lease with the Crown Estate also required him to maintain the home. The latter requirement has proven to be a challenge for Andrew in recent years. His murky finances have left many wondering how he affords his lavish lifestyle, especially since he was forced to step back as a working royal. He received a military pension from his time in the Royal Navy and may have other investments, The Guardian reports. King Charles has reportedly been giving him an annual £1 million pound allowance, but is said to have stopped paying that last year. With money tight, the prince might have been saving cash by putting off necessary upkeep to Royal Lodge. Photos of the buildings exterior suggest damage to the stucco and black mold. Needed repairs could cost as much as £2 million, according to The Sun. Former Duke of York loses lease on 30-room mansion, forced to move out Now, Andrew will no longer have to worry about those expenses. He’s received “formal notice … to surrender the lease and he will move to alternative private accommodation.” Exactly where Andrew will go hasn’t been confirmed, but the BBC reports that he’ll take up residence in a property on royal family’s private Sandringham estate. The king will pay for the relocation. Previously, there had been speculation that Andrew might move in Prince Harry and Meghan Markle’s former home, Frogmore Cottage. The former Duchess of York will also vacate Royal Lodge. She will have to make her own living arrangements.
