A potential alternative residence for Prince Andrew has been ruled out as his ex-wife, Sarah Ferguson, has rented it out. The beleaguered Duke of York is being urged by his brother, King Charles, to vacate the Royal Lodge.

The mansion, estimated to be worth £30 million, was leased to Andrew for 75 years in 2004. Situated on the Windsor Estate, he was responsible for its maintenance and had planned to pass it on to his daughters, Beatrice and Eugenie.

However, Charles wants him to relocate to a smaller property and will cease funding his security detail next month in an effort to persuade his brother. Despite this, Andrew remains resolute in his determination to stay put, but insiders suggest it’s a “no-brainer” for the Duke to move.

One possible new home is no longer available, according to reports in the Daily Mail. The Duchess of York, fondly referred to as ‘Fergie’, owns a £4.25m London townhouse which was seen as perfect for the pair.

However, she is now leasing it for £16,000 a month, seemingly eliminating it as an option. The two-bedroom property is situated in the posh area of Belgravia, just a stone’s throw from Buckingham Palace, reports the Scottish Daily Express.

The £192,000 she would earn annually from the property wouldn’t even cover half the cost of maintaining the Royal Lodge, which comes with 90 acres of land.

Frogmore Cottage remains the preferred Royal residence, but insiders suggest a Belgravia townhouse would have been ideal for Andrew and Sarah, who remain amicable. A source revealed: “Relocating to a luxury townhouse is a move that most people could only dream of, and it would save the Yorks £200,000 per year – it’s a no-brainer.”

“It’s time for the Yorks to be independent, they’ve got a long-term lease with the Crown Estate and if they can pay their fully independent means to live at Royal Lodge, they’re very welcome to, but they need the right security for a building of that size. If they can find the money that’s great, but if they can’t then a smaller property would be much less expensive.”

Princesses Beatrice and Eugenie are also named as owners of the Balgravie property, with the funds reportedly coming from inheritances from the late Prince Philip and The Queen Mother. Initially dubbed an “investment” by Sarah, it now appears her daughters will primarily benefit from this asset.