Royal | News - Prince Ricardo De La Cerda
The row between King Charles and Prince Andrew over Royal Lodge might have worsened, but the monarch’s younger brother has been offered the exclusive use of the Queen’s old cottage on the Balmoral estate this summer, Express.co.uk has learned.
According to our source, Prince Andrew will be joined by his ex-wife Sarah Ferguson at the late Queen’s favourite cottage on the estate, Craigowan.
The insider adds that it will prove a welcome trip for the prince who has been a virtual recluse at Royal Lodge in Windsor since the beginning of the year.
“Andrew has hardly left Royal Lodge since Christmas so he’s very much looking forward to getting away with the rest of the family at Balmoral,” said the source.
“He’s turned into a bit of a recluse, so the girls [Princesses Beatrice and Eugenie] are hoping that some nice family time will help cheer him up a bit and bring him out of his shell.”
King Charles appears to have recently given Prince Andrew a new ultimatum regarding his stay at Royal Lodge after he made a key move.
According to the Sun on Sunday, the monarch has sacked the Duke of York’s 10-man private security team saying their services won’t be needed after this coming October.
Andrew has been refusing to leave the 30-bedroom property in Windsor, thought to be worth £30million.
The royal has been struggling with the upkeep of the mansion as he is required to “repair, renew, uphold, clean and keep in repair and, where necessary, rebuild” the mansion, according to the 75-year lease agreement granted to him in 2003 by the Crown Estate.
It also specifies that the walls of the mansion must be repainted every five years “with two coats of paint”, while inside the house, the duke is forced to “paint with at least two coats of paint and to paper, polish, decorate and otherwise appropriately treat” every seven years, starting from 2010.
Prince William and Kate along with their three children – Prince George, 11, Princess Charlotte, 9, and Prince Louis, 6 – will also join in the fun at Balmoral this summer.
While extended members of the family and guests stay in the castle itself, senior members of the Royal Family will stay in separate more private cottages on the estate.
King Charles will stay at Birkhall with Queen Camilla which is where the couple spent their honeymoon in 2005.
Prince William, Princess Kate and their children will stay at a cottage known as Tam-Na-Ghar, which was gifted to William by his late great-grandmother, the Queen Mother.
The Sussexes have been left off the guest list this year so that King Charles can enjoy family time following a difficult year.
“Prince Harry and Meghan Markle will not be joining the rest of the Royal Family,” said a source.
“The King is keen for it to be a happy family occasion which will see members of the family come together for just over a week to discuss plans for the future and to unwind.”