Andrew ‘unlikely’ to quit Queen Mum’s old home – but can he afford to run it?
PRINCE ANDREW is ‘pretty unlikely’ to leave Royal Lodge at Windsor despite having no apparent source of income for its upkeep, according to an informed source.
The Duke of York, who can no longer use his HRH status and has no formal role within the Royal Family, was given a 75-year lease on the Queen Mother’s former home after her death in 2002. One of the conditions is that he carries out significant refurbishments.
While major renovations were completed 20 years ago, it is unclear how, with no obvious income apart from a modest Naval pension, he could pay for further repairs.
Earlier this year, Andrew agreed a multi-million-pound settlement with Virginia Giuffre, a victim of the serial paedophile financier Jeffrey Epstein, who had accused him of sexually abusing her on three occasions, including once when she was 17. While the Duke has repeatedly and vehemently denied her claims and any wrongdoing, he was stripped of his official Royal roles and has become a pariah.
With question marks over how Andrew could afford to continue to live at Royal Lodge, the Grade II listed property had been suggested as a potential home for the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge. The Mail on Sunday revealed last year that plans were being considered for the family to move to Windsor.
It is understood that one of the properties the couple are now eyeing is Adelaide Cottage. Located in the grounds of the Windsor Home Park and built in 1831 by King William IV, it was designed to be used as a retreat by his wife, Adelaide of Saxe-Meiningen.
The official register for Historic England describes the Grade II listed property as picturesque, adding: ‘The principal bedroom has a coved ceiling with gilded dolphins and rope ornament reused from the Royal Yacht Royal George.’
The Duchess has been visiting schools around Windsor and is said to favour mixed-sex schools for her children. Prince William went to nearby Eton.
Like the Queen, who has spent much of her reign at Buckingham Palace during the week and Windsor at weekends, the couple would have easier access to the capital with a home in Berkshire than their retreat at Anmer Hall, Norfolk.
Separately, meetings have been taking place between Prince Charles and Sir Michael Stevens, Keeper of the Privy Purse, and the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge about how Royal properties might be divided up in future.
‘No obvious income but for modest Navy pension’