Prince Andrew claims to have raised the funds to remain at his £30million home at Royal Lodge in Windsor.
And last night it was reported that the Duke of York has had his money approved by the Keeper of the Privy Purse, Sir Michael Stevens.
The King stopped paying for his brother’s £3million-a-year security at the 30-room home last month, raising questions about whether Andrew would be able to support himself financially and remain living there.
Palace and Crown Estate sources fear that, while Andrew may find the money to pay for Royal Lodge for one or two years, the position may not be sustainable in the longer term and his cash could run out, it was revealed by the Daily Mail’s acclaimed royal writer Robert Hardman in his best-selling biography Charles III: New King. New Court. The Inside Story.
One insider told Hardman: ‘Let’s just say that if that moment comes, and the Duke needs to call on the King’s resources once more, the range of options available to him may be more limited and rather less appealing.’
Andrew had been living in the property at Windsor Great Park with his former wife the Duchess of York under a Crown Estate agreement lasting until 2078.
The King had encouraged Andrew, 64, to move to nearby Frogmore Cottage, recently vacated by Prince Harry and the Duchess of Sus𝑠e𝑥.
Last week the Mail reported that Andrew has been cut off financially by the King, marking a new low in relations between the two brothers.
An updated biography by Hardman revealed the King had told the Keeper of the Privy Purse to sever his beleaguered brother’s annual personal allowance, believed to be £1million a year.
Last night The Times reported that Sir Michael had approved the funds.
The Duke no longer undertakes royal duties. He has been stripped of his patronages and military associations, and effectively barred from using his HRH title in public over his association with convicted paedophile Jeffrey Epstein.
Andrew has been determined to cling to the vestiges of his former life, most notably his home.
He has made clear to the King’s advisers that they have no right to force him to downsize and has rejected suggestions that he will move to Frogmore Cottage.
The Duke has repeatedly said that he can pay for his upkeep at Royal Lodge, claiming to have found ‘other sources of income’ related to his contacts in international trade.
It is unclear where the money has come from, or if the funds he has found are sufficient to cover much-needed repairs to the buildings on the property. The bill for renovations has already risen to £7million.
In June it was claimed Charles ‘wants to rent out Windsor Royal Lodge for £1million a year’ but Andrew would have to move out of the mansion first.
Buckingham Palace last night declined to comment.