New photos have revealed the increasing dilapidation of Prince Andrew’s official residence Royal Lodge, as the cash-strapped Duke and Duchess of York reportedly struggle to pay for the sprawling home’s upkeep.
New photos of Prince Andrew’s palatial residence Royal Lodge have revealed peeling paint on the exteriors and increasing dilapidation, as the cash-strapped Yorks struggle to afford the home’s upkeep.
The 30-room estate in Windsor Great Park is one of the most luxurious properties owned by the Crown and was previously home to the Queen Mother.
Andrew has lived in the home since 2004 under a 75-year lease from the Crown Estate and shares the massive property with his ex-wife Sarah, the Duchess of York.
The generous lease means Andrew pays a modest rent on the home in exchange for paying for the historic estate’s expensive upkeep.
However, the Yorks’ future in the home has come under doubt as Andrew and Fergie, both 64, are reportedly struggling to find the money to afford maintenance on the lavish home.
New photos of the royal home released by the Daily Mail on Monday reveal large chunks of white exterior paint that have cracked or completely peeled off walls.
Other wings of the grand mansion, which dates back to the 19th century, look grey in appearance because the ageing white colour scheme has been neglected.
The shocking update comes one year after King Charles attempted to evict Andrew and Fergie from the home to cut down on the Monarchy’s running costs and make the institution more cost-effective to the British taxpayer.
The King may also be pushing the eviction on behalf of Prince William, who is expected to one day relocate to the residence with the Princess of Wales and their three children.
Charles cut his disgraced brother’s £249,000 annual allowance last year, a move possibly designed to encourage the Yorks to leave the lavish home.
However, a well-place royal source told The Times newspaper that Charles has no authority to evict Andrew despite the fact he oversees the Crown Estate.
“That’s not a matter for the King,” the source clarified.
“It’s a matter for the Chancellor of the Exchequer. The only way you could get (Andrew) to move out would be through an arrangement — he would have to agree.”
The Daily Mail revealed last year that the King had offered his younger brother a more modest property but Andrew reportedly saw this as a “demotion” too far.
According to the BBC, Andrew and Fergie were reportedly offered use of the far less grand Frogmore Cottage – Prince Harry and Meghan Markle’s old home – which is located nearby on the Windsor Estate.
Negotiations over the future of Royal Lodge have been at stalemate for the past year, with the Yorks refusing to vacate temporarily while urgent repairs were undertaken in October for fear of being locked out permanently.