Prince Andrew’s reluctance to leave Royal Lodge has worsened King Charles's security headache, according to GB News Royal Correspondent Cameron Walker.
The Duke of York currently resides in the £30million mansion with his ex-wife Sarah Ferguson in Windsor Great Park, Berkshire.
The duke is unemployed and relies on his brother to pay for the upkeep and security of the property but now it has been reported that Andrew will have to fund the multi-million-pound security costs at Royal Lodge himself if he wants to stay in the 30-room house.
On this week's episode of The Royal Record podcast Cameron explained that "Charles controls the purse strings".
Prince Andrew has lived at Royal Lodge for almost 20 yearsGettyCameron said: "I think the issue we've got is that King Charles's lease agreement, according to the Times, says that he has to maintain the property and make sure it's in a good standard to live in. It's going to be very expensive to pay the rent on it.
"It's thought to be £260,000 a year. Where is he getting the 260 grand a year from? Because he's not a working member of the Royal Family. He's not getting any money from a sovereign grant, we believe he may have got some kind of inheritance from the late Queen, but it's not thought to be very much.
LATEST ROYAL UPDATES
Cameron Walker said the King controls the purse strings
GB News
"He has a very modest naval pension as well. The rest of it is at the moment being funded by King Charles. Charles therefore controls the purse strings.
"And because Royal Lodge is not in the guarded perimeter of Windsor Castle, it means it needs its own separate security, which, when Andrew was forced to step back as a working member of the Royal Family, he lost.
"Pretty similar to Harry, the police don't protect him. So King Charles pays out of his own pocket to secure his brother and keep him safe."
He added: "In King Charles's view and the Crown Estate's view, it's more efficient, It's more cost-effective if the ageing Prince Andrew moves from Royal Lodge to the smaller Frogmore Cottage. But is that going to hurt Prince Andrew's pride?"
King Charles want his brother to downsize
GettyDigital Royal Editor Svar Nanan-Sen added: "I think it could be argued that Charles just sees it as a cost-cutting exercise, especially with the fact that the Royal Lodge is currently in need of its own security.
"If Andrew was within the Windsor perimeter he obviously would then just be protected by the security that's already in place."
It comes after The Times alleged that the King is renewing his efforts to evict Andrew from Royal Lodge, threatening him with being cut off financially if he did not comply.
Svar said that is could be a cost-cutting measure
GB News
The article claimed the King would "reconsider the levels of support he is willing to provide" unless Andrew moved out.
It also alleged that King Charles is supporting the duke in the "low millions" of pounds per annum.
A source told the publication: "The King’s kindness is not without limit, and there is a very good option for Andrew to move into Frogmore Cottage… which also has the benefit of being within the Windsor Castle security cordon hence reducing the need for alternative round-the-clock security for Royal Lodge."