Prince Andrew's behaviour labelled 'farcical' as Duke 'refusing to leave home over King Charles eviction fears'

Royal Lodge, a 30-room estate valued at £30million, is currently occupied by just Prince Andrew and his ex-wife Sarah Ferguson, Duchess of York.

It is rumoured that the Prince and Princess of Wales, who currently live in the four-bedroom Adelaide Cottage in Windsor with their three children, could move into Royal Lodge if Andrew vacates the property.

Having taken over the 7-bedroom house from the late Queen Mother, it is reported that Prince Andrew has ploughed £7million into renovation work at Royal Lodge.

A source told the Daily Mail: “It's become farcical. Andrew has roof repairs scheduled later this summer which will take several months to complete and has been advised that staying in the house during those renovations could prove problematic, but he is reluctant to leave.”

While Prince Andrew drags his heels, the rumour mill continues to whirr with the hunch that King Charles will look to quietly usher his brother to Frogmore Cottage.

Earlier this year, it was confirmed that Harry and Meghan had been given their marching orders to vacate their Windsor home, bestowed upon them by the late Queen.

The five-bed of Frogmore is currently occupied by Princess Eugenie, who gave birth to her son last week and so the arrangement allows her to be closer for her parents to lend a helping hand.

Prince Andrew has been sidelined from official duties and largely kept out of the public eye after his involvement in the Jeffrey Epstein scandal.

Another source told the Daily Mail: “They originally wanted Andrew out of Royal Lodge so that the property could be renovated and prepared for new lodgers.

“But he is adamant that, as he has so many years left to run on his lease and he spent millions from his own fortune doing up the place that he is not going to leave his home.

“He feels very strongly, perhaps with some justification, that they are moving the goalposts suddenly and it is hugely unfair.

“No one knows how it will be resolved but Andrew is insistent. It was clearly convenient for Harry and Meghan to leave Frogmore as they were paying for a property they don't really use. But Royal Lodge is the Andrew's home.”

It is believed that the Crown Estate would not rule out renting the Royal Lodge commercially.

Another source told the Times: “The lease is in the duke’s name so no one can take that away from him.”

“It has never been suggested that it could be taken away from him.”

It is thought that Andrew still has 55 years left of his 75-year lease.

The source added: “This is a lease between him and the Crown Estate. That’s not a matter for the King.

"It’s a matter for the chancellor of the exchequer. The only way you could get him to move out would be through an arrangement — he would have to agree.”