Prince Andrew is reportedly set to lose his security detail at his Windsor estate home, with King Charles deciding to stop privately funding his brother’s protection.
This move has sparked speculation that the King may remove Andrew from the Royal Lodge entirely.
Since losing publicly-funded police protection in 2022, Andrew’s security has been financed by King Charles. However, The Sun reported on Sunday that his current security team members were informed that their services would no longer be needed as of November.
A palace insider suggested this could indicate that the Duke of York may soon be forced to vacate the Royal Lodge, as “what other reason could there be to take his security away?”
Sources have also hinted that the King’s intentions to have Andrew leave the property have been no secret.
The Duke of York has been largely sidelined from royal duties since his disastrous Newsnight interview in 2019, where he faced questions about his friendship with convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein and allegations of sexual abuse.
Earlier this year, it was reported that Andrew declined an offer to move out of the Royal Lodge in Windsor Great Park and into nearby Frogmore Cottage, previously the home of Prince Harry and his family. The issue has been ongoing, with a friend of the King telling The Times in June that if Andrew does not leave the Royal Lodge within a reasonable timeframe, King Charles might have to reconsider the entire package of support provided to him. This could include requiring Andrew to bear most of the costs for his security, accommodation, and lifestyle—expenses that may be unsustainable for him in the long run.
Andrew reportedly cannot afford the estimated £400,000 annual upkeep of the 30-room Royal Lodge, valued at around £30 million. The Duke signed a 75-year lease on the mansion in 2003.
The Sun has also noted that King Charles and Prince Andrew are currently staying at the Balmoral estate in Scotland.
Meanwhile, pressure on Andrew continues to grow following the unsealing of hundreds of court documents related to the Jeffrey Epstein scandal.
These legal papers, released earlier this year, include claims from Epstein’s former housekeeper, Juan Alessi, who stated that Andrew received daily massages during extended stays at Epstein’s Florida residence.
Alessi also claimed that both Andrew and his ex-wife, Sarah, Duchess of York, were friends with Epstein and Ghislaine Maxwell, the convicted sex trafficker.
Additionally, previous allegations that Andrew sexually assaulted Virginia Giuffre three times when she was 17, including during an orgy, have resurfaced in these documents.
Andrew has consistently denied these accusations and, in 2022, settled a civil case with Giuffre out of court for millions of pounds, maintaining that he never met her. Despite the resurfaced allegations, the Metropolitan Police have confirmed that no new investigation has been initiated.
