FILE – On this Sunday, April 11, 2021, file picture, Britain’s Prince Andrew speaks. throughout a tv interview on the Royal Chapel of All Saints at Royal Lodge, Windsor, England, Sunday, April 11, 2021. A lawsuit by an American who claims Prince Andrew sexually abused her when she was 17 might need to be thrown out as a result of she now not lives within the U.S., attorneys for the Prince stated in a courtroom submitting Tuesday, Dec. 28, 2021. (Steve Parsons/Pool Picture through AP, File)
A reasonably intriguing rumor persists amid studies that Prince Andrew may very well be requested to vacate his 31-room mansion close to Windsor Fortress as he faces the worldwide spectacle and hefty authorized payments of a U.S. trial on intercourse abuse allegations.
The rumor comes from a Each day Mail report over the summer season, which says that Prince William, Kate Middleton and their three kids may take over “Uncle Andrew’s” Royal Lodge, the Georgian mansion that’s about three miles from Windsor Fortress and was the longtime dwelling of the Queen Mom.
It’s nonetheless only a rumor, given newer studies in the Each day Mail and Architectural Digest that William and Kate are extra fascinated by one other coveted royal property close to Windsor Fortress, as they contemplate relocating their household from London to the suburbs west of town. The long run king and his spouse could also be pondering that Fort Belvedere, a Gothic Revival-style citadel, may very well be their future principal residence.
A few of Andrew’s many critics clearly like the concept of William forcing Andrew out of Royal Lodge and thereby flexing his energy within the royal household to additional his troublesome uncle’s humiliation.
“The continued private scandal involving Prince Andrew and Jeffrey Epstein is a supply of a lot heartache for Charles and William who're attempting to guard the way forward for the monarchy,” a supply instructed The Each day Mail in August. “There's now an lively dialogue on the most senior ranges of the Royal Household about how Andrew can stay on the Royal Lodge, given the circumstances.”
William and Prince Charles, Andrew’s older brother, had been reportedly instrumental in urging the queen final month to strip Andrew of his army titles and royal patronages, following a U.S. choose’s ruling that the civil intercourse abuse case towards Andrew will go ahead.
William was reportedly a key determine within the queen’s resolution to scale back Andrew to the standing of “personal citizen” as he battles allegations that he had intercourse with Virginia Roberts Giuffre, who says she was certainly one of Jeffrey Epstein’s underaged intercourse trafficking victims.
Giuffre alleges that the late multimillionaire pedophile pressured her to have intercourse with Andrew thrice in 2001, the primary time in London when she was 17.
William helped his grandmother understand that Andrew’s place was “grave,” The Solar stated.
The opportunity of Andrew shedding Royal Lodge remains to be very a lot in play and may very well be one other means that his standing within the royal household shall be downgraded, in accordance with The Solar. Andrew can also have to surrender his 24-hour safety, however being requested to go away Royal Lodge can be the bitterest tablet of all to swallow.
Andrew, 61, has loved the luxuries of Royal Lodge since 2003. Set on 98 acres, it’s large sufficient that he and his ex-wife, Sarah Ferguson, can occupy separate wings.
It’s valued at round $40 million, however, sometimes, Andrew signed an especially beneficiant lease that sees him solely paying the equal of about $1,300 a month, in accordance with The Solar. To his credit score, he seemingly added to its worth by spending $10 million to improve the property, together with the set up an indoor swimming pool.
Thankfully for the royal household, Andrew doesn’t personal the property, so it will possibly’t be seized as certainly one of his property if he loses his case towards Giuffre, The Solar stated.
It’s anticipated that the damages may very well be within the hundreds of thousands if Giuffre wins her case, or if Andrew settles, The Solar stated.
That’s one purpose Andrew might need offered his $22 million ski lodge within the Swiss alps — in order that it wouldn’t be seized if he loses the case, The Solar stated, nevertheless it’s additionally potential that Andrew offered the holiday getaway to lift cash to pay his attorneys.
The duke’s web price may very well be as excessive as $43 million, in accordance with Fox Enterprise Information, however he’s additionally recognized for having fun with a lavish life-style that he most likely can’t afford with the $323,000 tax-free pay he receives yearly from the queen’s personal property. Andrew moreover receives about $26,000 a 12 months in pension from the Royal Navy.
Andrew is famend for his costly tastes, together with a fleet of luxurious automobiles that features a $300,000 Bentley, and a set of high-end watches, The Solar stated. Andrew’s automobiles and watches positively may very well be seized as property if he loses the civil trial.
In the meantime, if Andrew should vacate Royal Lodge, he may transfer into Frogmore Cottage, which is also close to Windsor Fortress and was the short-time residence of Prince Harry and Meghan Markle earlier than they moved to the USA. Their lease is up in April.