Andrew spends £10m on luxury Lodge as he braces for exile in shadows with William to ban him ‘from all royal life’
Despite receiving his marching orders, Andrew will be allowed to continue living at Royal Lodge
HUMILIATED Prince Andrew has spent millions of pounds renovating Royal Lodge as he prepares for a life in the shadows.
The former Duke of York, 65, will be banned from William’s coronation and Christmas at Sandringham when he is King, it is understood.
Andrew will be banned from William’s coronation when he is King, it is understoodCredit: EPA
It is believed Andrew has spent £10 million renovating Royal LodgeCredit: No Credit
Author Andrew Lownie said it is Andrew’s ‘last status symbol’ connecting him to the crownCredit: Alamy
The King is believed to have consulted William after it was revealed Andrew had lied about cutting ties with paedo pal Jeffrey Epstein.
Releasing a statement through Buckingham Palace, Andrew finally fell on his sword and gave up his Duke of York title over the sex abuse scandal.
But insiders say William is not satisfied with that and it is likely the “Andrew problem” will continue.
Despite receiving his marching orders, Andrew will be allowed to continue living at Royal Lodge in Windsor.
Royal author Andrew Lownie said the Duke has spent £10 million renovating the luxurious 30-room pad.
The historian said Andrew would stay in his home “as long as he can afford to” because it is his “last status symbol” connecting him to the crown.
He wrote in The Times: “He could voluntarily vacate the 30-room mansion he has occupied for the past 20 years.
“But the signs suggest that he will stay as long as he can afford to; he pays a peppercorn rent and has spent up to £10 million restoring it.
“Besides, Royal Lodge is the last status symbol for a man who has little sense of his own identity beyond once being second in line to the throne.”
The former Duke has a “cast-iron” tenancy agreement at his home until 2078.
In a poll yesterday, Sun readers voted overwhelmingly in favour of kicking Andrew out of the luxurious pad.
It is understood the King and Wills are eager to get him out of the mansion, which is located a few miles from Windsor Castle.
It is also just half a mile from the Wales’s new home, Forest Lodge.
Charles is understood to have consulted with his eldest son and other members of the Royal Family before giving Andrew his marching orders.
It is understood that William will ban his humiliated uncle from his coronation and Christmas gatherings once he is king.
Last year, The Sun revealed Andrew was personally paying for a cut-price security deal to remain in his royal home.
He lost his annual £3million-a-year hand-out from brother Charles which funded guards at Royal Lodge.
Royal sources said Andrew’s daughters Beatrice, 37, and Eugenie, 35, will remain princesses in the same way he remains a prince.
Those are titles they are born with and cannot be taken away.
It was claimed yesterday Charles was “protecting” his nieces by not stripping Andrew of his titles.
It is understood the removal of Prince Andrew’s titles would have affected the princesses’ rights to use their titles.
And the King was determined to avoid impacting Beatrice and Eugenie – who he has great affection for – it is believed.
The title was given to him by the late Queen Elizabeth II on July 23, 1986, the day of his wedding to Sarah Ferguson.
Ex-wife Sarah Ferguson will no longer use the title Duchess of York — which she has not used professionally for many years anyway.
Yesterday, The Sun revealed Andrew cancelled a birthday party for Fergie, due to be hosted at their mansion in Windsor, at the last minute.
Andrew has also given up his role as a member of the Order of the Garter, the most senior order of chivalry in the UK, which he was given in 2006.
Palace sources confirmed he will not be invited to Christmas at Sandringham and will likely be banished from all future major royal events.
Earlier this month, we revealed Andrew sent an email to Epstein on February 28, 2011, saying “we are in this together”.
“Don’t worry about me! It would seem we are in this together and will have to rise above it.
“Otherwise keep in close touch and we’ll play some more soon!!!!”
King Charles consulted with William on the move, it is understoodCredit: pixel8000
Andrew told Epstein in the email: “I’m just as concerned for you!
