The Prince and Princess of Wales have been dwelling in Adelaide Cottage, some three miles from Forest Lodge, since August 2022.
It was revealed this summer season that the Waleses and their three kids, Prince George, 12, Princess Charlotte, 10, and Prince Louis, seven, hope that the Grade II-listed Forest Lodge will probably be their “ceaselessly residence”.
A supply stated on the time that the transfer was meant as a recent begin after a “brutal” few years for the couple, together with the most cancers diagnoses of each the Princess of Wales and the King.
Nonetheless, their new house is only a quick stroll from Royal Lodge, the place Prince Andrew has lived with Sarah Ferguson, his ex-wife, for greater than twenty years.
Whereas Prince Andrew is now understood to be in superior talks with the King’s representatives about quitting his long-time residence, his preliminary response was to dig his heels in and cite the phrases of his “forged iron” lease with the Crown Property.
Buckingham Palace has lengthy tried to put strain on the King’s youthful brother to voluntarily surrender the residence, together with by chopping his annual allowance final 12 months. And there’s now a rising sense of inevitability that Prince Andrew will quickly transfer.
Prince William is known to have been eager to remain out of the negotiations over his uncle being pressured out, as he stays on good phrases along with his cousins, Beatrice and Eugenie, however he has made it clear he needs the matter resolved.
Andrew’s daughters Beatrice (entrance) and Eugenie in 2024.Credit score: AP
Prince Andrew nonetheless has 50 years left on his pay as you go lease, and there stays the issue of the place he’ll stay as a substitute, in addition to how a lot cash he’ll obtain in compensation for the hundreds of thousands he has spent on the property.
It has emerged that the general public spending watchdog is poised to assist look at Andrew’s funds. Final week, Prime Minister Keir Starmer backed an inquiry into the prince’s grace-and-favour mansion deal.
Starmer stated he would assist “correct scrutiny” of the association when requested if he wish to see the Prince hauled earlier than Parliament to face MPs.
At PMQs on Wednesday, Ed Davey, the Liberal Democrat chief, requested whether or not Sir Keir would “assist a choose committee inquiry so all these concerned needs to be referred to as for proof, together with the present occupant”.
Starmer stated: “It’s vital in relation to all properties, Crown properties, that there’s correct scrutiny, so I definitely assist that.”
The Telegraph, London
