Prince Andrew's inheritance plan blow as he's 'unlikely' to keep Royal Lodge, expert says

Prince Andrew has been advised to abandon plans of leaving Royal Lodge to his daughters, Princess Beatrice and Princess Eugenie.

The 64-year-old holds a lease with the Crown Estate for the Windsor residence until 2078. But he is reportedly facing mounting pressure to cover the costs for the upkeep and security of Royal Lodge if he wishes to continue living there.

King Charles is said to have stopped paying for his 10-man security team, meaning Andrew would now have to foot the bill. Dubbed the “Siege of Royal Lodge”, the situation sees Andrew, who cohabits with his former wife Sarah Ferguson, grappling with the challenge of preserving the mansion as an inheritance for his daughters.

It is believed that he desired to secure Royal Lodge as a family home for Beatrice, 36, and Eugenie, 34.

However, since stepping back from royal duties in 2019, Andrew faces intensified demands from his brother to downsize to a more modest property with lower maintenance costs. The King is said to favour Frogmore Cottage, previously occupied by Prince Harry and Meghan Markle, as an alternative home.

The princesses though are said to have another potential inheritance property through their mother, the Duchess of York. She is said to have acquired a £4million house in Mayfair last year, reports the Scottish Daily Express.

Royal commentator Gareth Russell told GB News that the likelihood of Royal Lodge remaining an inheritance for the York princesses is diminishing. He said: “In theory, had everything gone the way Prince Andrew had hoped, there would have been possibly two inheritance homes for his daughters.

“But it’s incredibly unlikely that that will be the fate for Royal Lodge. Maybe Mayfair is the alternative inheritance home given that Royal Lodge might not be Andrew’s for the remainder of his life, much less something he’s in any position to bequeath to his daughters.”

Andrew reportedly has reservations about leaving Royal Lodge for the more modest Frogmore Cottage. Should the duke vacate, there’s speculation that it could become a revenue-generating asset for the Crown Estate.

Andrew stepped down as a senior working royal in 2019. It has left him without an income other than his naval pension and a “generous” allowance funded privately by the King.

It has been suggested that Charles is also reconsidering Andrew’s allowance, in a bid to settle their dispute.