Prince Andrew's plan for 'Beatrice and Eugenie's inheritance will help Prince William'

The source said: "He was never going to just walk away from the property; the lease is a valuable asset he intends to leave to his children, and maybe William will be glad of having Eugenie or Beatrice there in years to come."

"Andrew has a cast iron lease on the property, so God knows why Charles chose to pick this battle."

"We are thrilled for Andrew," they told The Daily Beast.

They added: "Andrew has a cast iron lease on the property, so God knows why Charles chose to pick this battle.

"It's hard to imagine anyone would have any interest in where Andrew is living if Charles' aides had not spent the past year banging on about it."

Another friend told the Daily Beast: "Charles has everything. He is as rich as Croesus. Andrew is 64 and his house is basically all he has left, and it was wicked of the king to try and take it off him. Why? Who cares?"

In their critical assessment of the King, the friend claimed that "the monarchy is run on a shoestring."

Prince Andrew has found the funding to stay at Royal Lodge, after King Charles told him that he would have to downsize to Frogmore Cottage earlier this year.

The keeper of the privy purse, Sir Micheal Stevens, has confirmed the money the Duke of York will use comes from legitimate sources.

A source told the Times: "If Andrew can pay for his own upkeep with legitimate means, then it is not an issue. But the king's patience has run out when it comes to funding his brother's lifestyle in a way that does not fit his status."

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The Duke of York stepped down from royal life after his infamous Newsnight interview in 2019, but King Charles's younger brother still lives at Royal Lodge on the Windsor estate, fuelling a feud with his brother.

Frogmore Cottage, the former home of Prince Harry and Meghan Markle, was suggested as a suitable replacement after Andrew lost his right to taxpayer-funded security after being stripped of his royal duties.

Royal biographer Robert Hardman revealed that it was his mother, Queen Elizabeth II, who suggested evicting the prince, and she would have done so if she had lived another year.

The King told Andrew that his "£1million-a-year" allowance would finally be axed.