Prince Andrew 'seeking refuge' away from Royal Lodge amid tense clash

Prince Andrew

Prince Andrew 'seeking refuge' away from Royal Lodge amid tense clash

Getty
Dorothy Reddin

By Dorothy Reddin


Published: 09/08/2024

- 17:16

The Duke of York stood down from royal duties in 2019 amid an angry public backlash to his Newsnight interview

Prince Andrew is "seeking refuge" away from Royal Lodge amid a tense clash, a commentator has claimed.

King Charles and Queen Camilla are thought to have invited the Duke of York to Balmoral Castle this summer, along with other members of the Royal Family.


Editor-in-chief of Majesty Magazine, Ingrid Seward, has claimed that Prince Andrew will "obviously go" too, adding: "He loves Balmoral."

Seward continued: "He's been there every other year, and I think he can find a bit of refuge there, away from cameras and prying eyes.

Prince AndrewPrince Andrew 'seeking refuge' away from Royal Lodge amid tense clashGetty

"It also gives him a chance to see members of the rest of his family."

The Duke of York stood down from royal duties in 2019 amid an angry public backlash to his Newsnight interview with Emily Maitlis.

Andrew famously discussed his friendship with the late convicted sex offender, Jeffrey Epstein, and referred to his behaviour as "unbecoming".

Since 2019, Prince Andrew has only been photographed at a handful of royal events and spends the majority of time at his home Royal Lodge, where he has lived since 2003.

Balmoral CastleBalmoral Castle is located among the Scottish HighlandsPA

Seward continued to tell The Sun: "The Duke of York is quite limited as to where he can go, because he obviously doesn't want to be photographed and then subsequently criticised.

"So his world is very narrow. He does have things to do, but they're very minimal.

"He does have a few friends, though many fewer than before. I think what he really lacks is a purpose."

King Charles and Prince Andrew have been involved in a tense clash over the duke's home Royal Lodge, according to reports.

Queen Elizabeth II and Prince Andrew

Queen Elizabeth II and Prince Andrew pictured at Balmoral in 2019

PA

Royal LodgeRoyal Lodge was formerly the home of the Queen MotherPA

The monarch, 75, is understood to want Andrew to move into the smaller home Frogmore Cottage, where Prince Harry and Meghan Markle used to live.

However, Andrew has a 75-year lease which he intends to honour, and is also thought to want to leave the Windsor home for his children, Princesses Beatrice and Eugenie.

Seward added: "We know there's no coming back for him, so he has to kind of reconstruct a different sort of life.

"It has been said, 'Why doesn't he go and live in the north of Scotland, in some remote place?' Well, maybe that's what he will have to do."

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