Prince William is reportedly staying away from the heated arguments between King Charles and Prince Andrew about whether Andrew should stay at Royal Lodge. Although William wants the disagreement to end, he is not directly getting involved, mainly because he respects his close bond with his cousins, Princess Beatrice and Princess Eugenie.
William was quietly asked about the decision that led to Andrew giving up his title and losing some royal privileges.
Last week, Andrew lost his remaining titles, including the Duke of York, after more questions arose about his ties to Jeffrey Epstein and possible connections to China.
Now, Andrew, who is 64, is thought to be in deep talks with palace officials to stay in Royal Lodge, where he has lived since 2003.
He has practically lived there for over 20 years without paying much rent.
Even though the situation is getting more serious, William isn’t taking an active role.
He wants the King and palace staff to handle the delicate discussions while keeping things peaceful with Beatrice and Eugenie.
Sources say William has made it clear to the sisters, who are 37 and 35, that they are not to blame for their father’s troubles.
According to The Telegraph, William has also been helping to ease the sisters’ worries about their own royal homes, even though their father’s situation is causing issues.
Beatrice lives at St James’s Palace, while Eugenie and her family are at Ivy Cottage in Kensington Palace.
Both sisters live with their husbands and children.
Insiders say William plans to keep his cousins close when he becomes king, making sure they are part of family events and official royal duties—a big difference from how he treats their parents.
William is also firm with Sarah Ferguson, Andrew’s ex-wife, who was involved in the Epstein scandal and lost her title.
But William’s strong relationship with Beatrice and Eugenie may make things harder, as Andrew wants to stay near his daughters in Windsor.
Other options like Royal Lodge in Scotland and Norfolk haven’t worked, because they would put him far from his family.
On Friday, it was revealed that Andrew and King Charles have been discussing his future at Royal Lodge — a decision that could mean he has to leave his home for good.
At first, Andrew refused, saying he still had 50 years left on his prepaid tenancy.
However, palace insiders believe he is starting to accept that moving might be necessary.
The lease he signed is very strong legally, making it hard to force him out, so the palace is trying to get him to leave voluntarily.
Another big issue in the talks is money — Andrew wants compensation for all the money he has spent on Royal Lodge over the years.
Official records show Andrew signed a 75-year lease for Royal Lodge in 2003, paying £1 million upfront.
According to a National Audit Office report, he also had to invest another £7.5 million in major renovations, which were completed in 2005.
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