Prince Andrew ‘has one regret about key move he didn’t make while Queen was alive’, say pals
The Duke of York is believed to have one major regret about a move over his future that he didn't make while Queen Elizabeth was still alive reportedly say friends
Prince Andrew has a major regret about where he lives that he regrets he did not sort out under the late Queen reportedly say friends.
The Duke of York has been in a long running battle with his brother Charles over his home at the Royal Lodge. The King has been asking Andrew to leave the £30 million mansion in Windsor for more than a year but the Duke is reportedly digging his feet in and refusing to go.
And as the saga drags on, friends have said that Andrew wishes he had sorted out a home while Queen Elizabeth was still alive, claims royal expert Richard Kay.
It is well known that he was a favourite of the late Queen and was able to get more leeway with her than would be possible under Charles as monarch.
“Andrew is not by nature introspective but one regret, say friends – and it’s an issue which goes to the heart of his predicament – is that he failed to secure a property in his own name (where he would have been untouchable) while the Queen was alive,” said Mr Kay in the Mail.
Andrew is understood to have told the King that he intends to ‘see out’ the 55 years left on a lease he signed for the mansion two decades ago, despite being encouraged to move into the nearby Frogmore Cottage , which is currently vacant after being home to Prince Harry and Meghan Markle .
Andrew has lived at the 31-room property in 98 acres of grounds on the Windsor estate, for more than 20 years after signing a 75-year lease. He is based there with his ex-wife Sarah Ferguson, and his friends say that due to his lease he has no reason to give up the residence.
But it has also been reported that another tactic the King has used to try and oust Andrew is by axing his private security. The King has reportedly decided to fire the ten-man team to put more pressure on the Duke of York to leave his Royal Lodge home. Charles has been funding private guards at the Windsor property ever since Andrew’s armed cops were removed in 2022.
Andrew may soon be forced to leave the house with Charles , telling the security team they are no longer needed at the lodge once their contract ends in the autumn. A Palace insider weighed in on the issue saying that “it isn’t a secret that the King wants him out” after reports that the Duke of York has become a “bit of a recluse”.
The insider told The Sun: “Everyone is speculating this means the Duke will have to leave the Royal Lodge because what other reason could there be to take his security away? They are all working the final weeks of their contract till the end of October. It’s not thought anyone is being lined up to replace them.”
