1 week Ago By [email protected] (Andy Lines, Jennifer Newton)
King Charles has issued Prince Andrew two options in a bid to end the row over his living arrangements dubbed the " siege of Royal Lodge". Charles is growing increasingly frustrated at Andrew's decision to continue living at the huge Royal Lodge in Windsor, it is understood. He wants to move him to Prince Harry 's old house at Frogmore Cottage .
Sources close to the King now refer to it as "the Andrew problem" and said there are "only two possible options" to solve it. The first would be for Andrew to find a way to become independent and pay for all his own expenses, which would cover his security and the upkeep on his home. But with no apparent income except for his modest naval pension, it remains clear if he could meet the costs.
The second option is for Andrew to agree to move to "more suitable accommodation". Charles has personally earmarked Frogmore Cottage on the Windsor estate as a suitable home for Andrew. He is still living in the vast Royal Lodge despite stepping down from official duties nearly five years ago.
His police security was removed after a Home Office review and he is now guarded by a security team which costs an estimated £3million a year and is funded from the King's private wealth. Charles also provides Andrew with a generous living allowance at his own expense. A source told The Times said the King is losing patience.
He said: "It is now two years into the King's reign and he wants the matter settled." The King, meanwhile, is said to be "reconsidering" the amount of funding he gives Andrew. The contract, which provides a ten-strong security detail to guard the duke at Royal Lodge, runs out this autumn and is not expected to be renewed.
No replacement team is thought to have been lined up. It is understood that steps have already been taken to withdraw funding from Andrew. Rather than a punitive step, it is thought to be a decision of financial pragmatism and a way of securing the duke's long-term security as he gets older.
A source has described the stand-off between Charles and Andrew as "the siege of Royal Lodge". A friend of the King's said that the duke was "taking longer than desirable to recognise the reality of the situation, even though it is clearly the most sensible course of action". They added: "It can be done tidily or untidily.
It can be done with grace and dignity or it can be forced upon him. It's all rather sad. But as things stand, life at Royal Lodge is set to become increasingly cold and uncomfortable for the duke.
The only question now is when he will realise that he has become a prisoner of his own pride." Buckingham Palace declined to comment. Last week, a glum looking Andrew was spotted out riding near his Royal Lodge home as the row over his home rumbled on.
It also comes as yet another drama is set to be released this week, this time on Amazon Prime, about his car crash Newsnight interview with Emily Maitlis, where he was quizzed over his links to convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein ..
