Prince Andrew and Fergie 'hesitant' to escalate row during holiday in Scotland

Prince Andrew and Fergie 'hesitant' to escalate row during holiday in Scotland

PA
Dorothy Reddin

By Dorothy Reddin


Published: 22/08/2024

- 16:50

King Charles and Queen Camilla are at Balmoral Castle in Aberdeenshire for their summer break

Prince Andrew and Fergie are "hesitant" to escalate their current row during their holiday in Scotland, according to inside sources.

King Charles and Queen Camilla are at Balmoral Castle in Aberdeenshire for their summer holiday, with the Duke and Duchess of York among their first guests.


However, the family holiday is tipped to have its awkward moments as the monarch and his younger brother are currently locked in crunch talks over the duke's home, Royal Lodge.

Prince Andrew has lived in the Windsor property, formerly the home of the late Queen Mother, since 2003.

Prince Andrew and Sarah FergusonPrince Andrew and Fergie 'hesitant' to escalate row during holiday in ScotlandPA

However, the King, 75, is keen for the duke, who is no longer a working member of the Royal Family, to downsize and move into a smaller less expensive property.

The latest move by the monarch is to lay off Royal Lodge’s 10-strong security team.

King Charles is said to have told the team they will no longer be needed from the autumn.

The King has been paying for private guards at the 31-room mansion since Andrew’s £3million-a-year armed protection officers were removed in 2022.

Balmoral CastleBalmoral Castle is located in Aberdeenshire, ScotlandGetty

This week, friends of the Duke and Duchess of York told The Mail that they are declining to discuss the current row between King Charles and Prince Andrew.

Royal commentator Richard Eden wrote this was because they were "no doubt fearful of increasing tensions while they are spending time with the King and Queen" at Balmoral Castle.

A Palace insider told The Sun about the King’s plan to remove Andrew’s guards: "Everyone is speculating this means the duke will have to leave Royal Lodge because what other reason could there be to take his security away?

"They are all working the final weeks of their contract till the end of October.

Royal LodgePrince Andrew spends the majority of his time at Royal Lodge in WindsorPA
King Charles and Prince Andrew

King Charles and Prince Andrew are involved in a row dubbed the 'Seige of Royal Lodge'

PA

"It’s not thought anyone is being lined up to replace them.

"It isn’t a secret that the King wants him out."

Royal Lodge is a home that Andrew and Sarah, both 64, hoped they could eventually pass on to their daughters Princess Beatrice, 36, and Princess Eugenie, 34.

The Duke of York and Buckingham Palace have been approached by GB News for comment.

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