Royal Real Estate Roulette: Prince William and Kate Middleton's Shift From Prince Andrew Spread Unlocks Palace Gates for Sophie and Edward
Prince Andrew's Royal Lodge near Windsor Castle has become the subject of a multi-senior royal feud for the rights to the "jewel in the royal residential portfolio." With Andrew and King Charles III currently battling over the property, some analysts predict who will get the home if the King throws his disgraced brother out.
"The logical choice, of course, would be the Prince and Princess of Wales, but they've shown relatively little interest in moving home again," author Gareth Russell shared. "They seem quite content where they are. It could be the Duke and Duchess of Edinburgh."
"Royal Lodge has a high-profile history within the royal family," he added. "Bear in mind, it was the last home of Queen Elizabeth, the Queen Mother. So it's traditionally been assigned to senior royals. However, it could also be that this is part of another move by the King to slim down or shake up the royal property portfolio."
This comes after Sarah Ferguson all but confirmed the long-running Charles and Andrew rift with Good Morning Britain host Martin Lewis when he kept asking the ex-royal about the quarrel. "I tend not to get involved in brothers' discussions, and I think that's the safest place to be," Ferguson pointedly told the broadcaster when asked about the squabble. "Let the brothers discuss it between themselves."
The battle for Royal Lodge is starting to feature "dirty tactics" by Charles III in his effort to kick his disgraced younger brother out of the opulent mansion. Despite his best efforts, the Duke is struggling to keep the lavish estate, but may just have a "secret weapon" in his battle with the reigning monarch. Ferguson has lived in the Royal Lodge with Andrew as "roommates" since 2008.
This year, Jeffrey Epstein's former pal has increased his efforts to resist the King's wish to kick him and Fergie from the residence. Insiders are calling the dispute the "siege of Royal Lodge."
Majesty Magazine's Editor-in-Chief, Ingrid Seward, believes that Prince Andrew's daughters, Princess Beatrice and Princess Eugenie, might be instrumental in aiding their father.
"It's not the case that we're seeing them being replaced by other royals as much as they were in the past," Russell observed. "So it may be that Royal Lodge is just put to different use once Prince Andrew leaves. It's possible that no one will go into Royal Lodge. I think we're at the start of an era in which the older rules on royal properties don't apply and we won't be able to make the same predictions."
He concluded: "Charles III has shown that he is quite content to really shake things up and that when properties become vacant, it doesn't necessarily mean they'll be replaced with other royal residents as they would have been in the time of Queen Elizabeth II."
GBN reported on Russell's comments.