Sarah Ferguson has given her take on the ongoing feud between Prince Andrew and King Charles over Royal Lodge.
The Duke of York currently lives in the sprawling £30million property but Charles reportedly wants his brother to “downsize” and move into the much smaller Frogmore Cottage, which requires less expensive upkeep.
In Prince Andrew’s 75-year lease agreement with the Crown Estate, it states that he must “repair, renew, uphold, clean and keep in repair and where necessary rebuild” the home.
However, works have gone uncompleted and the King reportedly wants his brother to vacate as he no longer wants to fund the Duke’s lifestyle - which includes a £3million-per-year security bill - at the 30 bedroom manor.
Sarah Ferguson wades in on the Royal Lodge feud between Charles and AndrewPA/GettyNow, Ferguson, who lives in the property with her ex-husband, has waded in on the row whilst speaking on Good Morning Britain.
When asked by co-host Martin Lewis what was transpiring regarding the cottage, she said: “It’s not a debby downer, it’s life in the fast lane.”
She added: “I'm a guest, for a start. I'm a very lucky guest and a very comfortable guest. Thank you very much.”
The Duchess said that she would not interject herself in the feud, preferring to let Charles and Andrew sort it out between the two of them.
Sarah Ferguson lives in the property with her ex-husband
ReutersShe said: “I tend not to get involved in brothers’ discussions and I think that’s the best, most safe place to be, is to let the brothers discuss it between themselves.”
The property’s upkeep has fallen by the weyside, with peeling paint and overgrown moss growing on the exterior of the house. As part of his 75-year lease, the Duke agreed to maintain the vast property, however, if these terms are broken, he could be evicted.
The Duke, despite having no formal income, is steadfast in his determination to stay at the Windsor house, with sources claiming he is willing to maintain the £30million property at “any cost”.
Prince Andrew receives handouts from his brother to live in and maintain the property, as well as fund his security detail, which began in 2019 after the Home Office stopped assigning police to protect the Duke once he stepped down from official duties in 2019.
Prince Andrew has lived at the Royal Lodge for almost 20 years GettyROYAL LATEST:
As part of his 75-year lease, the Duke agreed to maintain the vast property
PAIf these payments were to cease, then Prince Andrew would have to fund his own security, house keepers, gardeners and home improvements all from his own pocket - despite having no discernible income.
A royal source told The Times: “The King’s kindness is not without limit and there is a very good option for Andrew to move into Frogmore Cottage, recently vacated by the Duke and Duchess of Sussex, 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.
“He is taking longer than desirable to recognise the reality of the situation, even though it is clearly the most sensible course of action.
“If he doesn’t agree to move to a property better suited to his needs, then the King may have to reconsider the levels of support he is willing to provide.”