12 April 2023 , 08:21
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King Charles and Prince Andrew’s relationship has reportedly hit an all-time low after a furious row over a £30 million home.
In the run-up to Charles’ coronation on May 6, Charles has found himself with yet another headache resulting from a member of his family.
Whilst he still awaits Prince Harry and Meghan Markle ’s final decision over attending the coronation, despite missing the final RSVP ten days ago, he has ended up with his younger brother allegedly kicking up a fuss.
This royal row is centred over the £30 million Royal Lodge home in Windsor.
As a part of Charles’ efforts to slimline the monarchy and reduce costs, he has rejigged some of the living conditions for some senior royals.
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The Royal Lodge in Windsor, the £30 million home at the heart of the brother's fallout (Roland Hoskins/ANL/REX/Shutterstock)He has kicked Harry and Meghan out of Frogmore Cottage, and tried to move the disgraced Prince Andrew into it.
But Andrew has reportedly refused to bow to efforts to move him out of his current residence - the Royal Lodge.
This has led to a souring of relations between the brothers, reports claim, and is despite the fact that Charles has handed him the keys to Frogmore in an effort to get him to move.
Page Six first reported on the 63-year-old’s obstinance, as he refuses to leave the home he has lived in since 2003.
A royal source told the outlet that Andrew was clinging onto the lodge in an effort to remain being seen as a senior royal.
Prince Andrew is said to be refusing to leave the house (Getty Images)They said: “Andrew doesn’t want to leave because the property is seen as a symbol of senior royalty — an important property in the family’s portfolio.
“But William, who is the heir to the throne, has his eye on it.”
Andrew hasn't played a role in the royal family since he paid a reported £12million to Virginia Giuffre to dodge going to court over sex abuse claims - something he denies.
He increasingly came under fire for his defence of his relationship with Jeffrey Epstein, including when Andrew claimed that his only fault in the issue was that he was 'too honourable'.
Prince William, the future king, Kate Middleton and their family only moved to Adelaide Cottage, not far from Andrew, a year ago.
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The disgraced prince has been offered the keys to Frogmore Cottage, the former home of the Sussexes' (REX/Shutterstock)But the four-bed home is already feeling small for the royals, reports claim, affected by William needing more office space with his growing role.
But all the wrangling over spacious homes, as the country struggles through a cost of living crisis, has said to have “infuriated” the king in the run up to his coronation.
“Relations between the king and his brother have never been this bad. It has turned into a real battle which he never expected and it’s left him tired and infuriated.” A source told the outlet.
This all comes in the runup to Charles’ coronation, which still faces a number of issues as organisers face a “race against time” to finalise details of the King and Queen’s historic crowning at Westminster Abbey.
A catalogue of major issues have emerged at the heart of planning for the May 6 event, with insiders revealing that rehearsals ran over by an hour, wrecking Charles’s plans for a "slimmed down" service.
They include:
- Seating plans still not arranged, owing to Prince Harry and Meghan Markle who have still not confirmed their attendance despite the April 3 cut off point.
- Huge fears that the King could stumble over his elaborate robes in front of a television audience of 100 million, prompting aides to draft in emergency builders to construct a ramp up to the throne chair where the 74-year-old sovereign sits after being crowned.
- Key outfits for senior members of the Royal Family - including the Princess of Wales, Princess Royal and Duchess of Edinburgh - still not been decided.
- Rows over the Coronation route, with planners opting against a larger procession to keep policing costs down to avoid scrutiny.
- Prince Andrew’s furious reaction over a potential ban on wearing elaborate ‘Garter Knight’ robes, following his exile from the Royal Family.