Prince Andrew, the Duke of York, is facing significant financial pressure after reportedly being cut off by his brother, King Charles.
According to an updated royal biography by Robert Hardman, the King has decided to stop funding the prince’s security and personal allowance. Together, these expenses are believed to cost several million pounds annually.
The biography claims that the Keeper of the Privy Purse, who manages royal finances, has been directed to end the financial support for the 64-year-old prince.
The decision means Prince Andrew will have to cover the substantial upkeep and security costs of Royal Lodge, his 30-room residence in Windsor, out of his own pocket.
The property, a 19th-century listed building, is leased from the Crown Estate and requires considerable funds to maintain.
Prince Andrew has not yet responded to these claims, and Buckingham Palace has declined to comment.
The pressure comes amid renewed public scrutiny, partly fueled by two new films released this year on Netflix and Amazon that revisit his controversial 2019 BBC Newsnight interview, in which he was questioned about his association with the late Jeffrey Epstein.
The prince stepped back from royal duties following the fallout from that interview, later losing his military titles and patronages. He has since led a private life at Royal Lodge. A commentator even referred to him as having been “de-royalled.”
While it is King Charles now reportedly enforcing these financial measures, discussions about Prince Andrew’s living arrangements and future funding had begun before the King’s reign.
One proposal has been for the prince to move into the smaller Frogmore Cottage, previously occupied by Prince Harry and Meghan Markle, as it would have lower maintenance and security costs.
Royal Lodge remains under a long-term lease, which Prince Andrew secured until 2078.
He paid a substantial amount upfront when he took on the lease in 2003, including over £7.5 million for repairs and a £2.5 million one-off payment to reduce the annual rent.
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Documents also reveal a one-off payment of £1 million to the Crown Estate. A clause in the lease states that if he leaves before 2028, he could receive partial compensation for his renovation expenses, but with less than four years left, any recouped amount would be minimal.
Despite this, maintaining Royal Lodge comes with high security and upkeep costs. According to Hardman’s book, King Charles will no longer shoulder these expenses. “The duke is no longer a financial burden on the King,” a source is quoted as saying
