AFPPrin’s Andrew shortly before the Easter service at St. George’s Chapel last spring
NOS Nieuws•vandaag, 16:47
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Arjen van der Horst
United Kingdom correspondent
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Arjen van der Horst
United Kingdom correspondent
Prince Andrew, the younger brother of British King Charles III, will lose his royal allowance of 1 million pounds (1.2 million euros) per year. He will also no longer be reimbursed for the costs of his personal security. That’s in an updated biography about Charles.
The book will be published next week and is written by the well-known British author Robert Hardman, who has several books about the royal family to his name.
Andrew became controversial due to his friendship with the controversial businessman Jeffrey Epstein. The American multimillionaire, known for wild sex parties on his private Caribbean island, was convicted of sexually abusing underage girls. Later, the American justice department also accused him of ‘sex trafficking’ of minors. Epstein died in his cell, he is said to have taken his own life while awaiting trial.
The prince maintained ties with Epstein for years, even after he was convicted in 2010. For example, Andrew is said to have raped the then 17-year-old Virginia Giuffre, an alleged sex slave of Epstein, several times. The prince has reached a settlement with her. According to British media, the amount involved is 14 million euros.
Disastrous interview
In 2019, Prince Andrew gave an extensive interview to the BBC program Newsnightin which he was asked, among other things, about his ties to Epstein. The interview went disastrously with a series of bizarre statements from the prince. The then Queen Elizabeth decided to strip him of his military titles and other royal honorary positions.
Prince Andrew was also no longer a ‘working member’ of the royal family. Working royals act on behalf of the monarch in official functions and in that capacity can claim compensation from a royal fund. By losing his position, Prince Andrew also lost his income. Since then he has been dependent on a personal grant from King Charles’ private funds.
Spacious villa
The British monarch has been struggling with his younger brother, with whom he has been at odds for many years. Charles had previously decided that Prince Andrew must leave his royal residence, the Royal Lodge. Andrew has lived in this 19th century property, a luxurious thirty-room villa on the grounds of Windsor Castle, since 2004.
The king wants his younger brother to move to the smaller Frogmore Cottage, Prince Harry’s former residence, which has five rooms. The residence has been empty since Charles’ youngest son left for California.
However, Prince Andrew refuses to leave the Royal Lodge. By cutting off his funds, the king hopes that the prince will no longer be able to pay the high costs for the maintenance of the spacious villa, according to Hardman’s biography. “The prince is no longer a financial burden on the king,” a royal source told the author.
Prince Andrew’s Royal Turmoil: No More Cash for Controversy!
Ah, Prince Andrew, the royal we never knew we needed—like a magic trick gone wrong, or a fruitcake at a wedding. In a stunning blow to his already dwindling fortunes, Andrew is set to lose his royal allowance of a cool 1 million pounds (or as we like to call it, a really lavish backyard BBQ). It seems that King Charles III is finally tightening the royal purse strings—no more golden royal breadcrumbs for our dear Andrew!
The Backdrop of a Scandal
Now, let’s not forget the reason behind this financial kicking. Our prince has managed to embroil himself in yet another scandal, thanks largely to the notorious Jeffrey Epstein—a name that strikes fear into the hearts of even the most hardened party-goers! Epstein’s Caribbean wild parties and allegations of trafficking minors have somewhat overshadowed the royal’s otherwise dull life of polo and—dare I say—cucumber sandwiches!
Andrew’s connections with Epstein, even after the man was convicted, have raised enough eyebrows to start a new trend in botox sales. Virginia Giuffre, who claimed Andrew had some rather unroyal encounters with her, settled for a staggering 14 million euros. Now that’s what I call *settling the score*! But alas, it wasn’t merely about money; it was about reputation, something quite fragile in Andrew’s case.
The BBC Interview Debacle
Remember the infamous 2019 BBC interview? Oh, the cringeworthy delight! Andrew’s attempt to defend his ties with Epstein was akin to watching a penguin trying to fly; painful and utterly futile. With bizarre statements flying like confetti, how could the Queen not snatch that royal gloss off him faster than you can say “Out of touch”? It’s like he single-handedly managed to redefine “royal embarrassment.” After that debacle, stripping him of military titles seemed not just necessary but urgent, like a visit to the dentist!
A Future in a Cottage?
And now, adding insult to injury, King Charles has reportedly decided that Andrew should swap his lavish thirty-room villa, the Royal Lodge, for a quaint, cozy Frogmore Cottage. Yes, the prince is being downsized quicker than a Netflix series that doesn’t get renewed after one season! A space that can barely fit the royal ego, instead of lavish banquets and indulgent gatherings, Andrew might find himself hosting tea parties—if he decides to move at all. Spoiler alert: he doesn’t want to budge.
Sweet Freedom or Bitter Liberation?
The King, in his royal wisdom, is trying to cut off any financial lifeline to coax his wayward brother out of the big house. It’s noble of him—very *noble*, indeed. But let’s be honest; this is less about being frugal and more about addressing a family feud with the finesse of a rotten tomato being flung at a stage during a Shakespearean play. In the words of our dear Andrew, it’s all about *keeping it civil*. Or not. Who knows?
Wrapping It Up
So, as we look forward to the upcoming biography by Robert Hardman—which honestly sounds more like the latest episode of a royal soap opera than a serious literary work—let’s pull our popcorn out and watch the chaos unfold. Will Prince Andrew take up residence in his dinky new abode? Or will he pull a rabbit out of that royal hat? Whatever happens, you can bet it will be royally entertaining.
In the meantime, let’s raise a glass (or a cucumber sandwich) to the good ol’ British royal family—where the drama is always positively riveting and the allowances are… well, evidently on a diet!
Prince Andrew, the younger brother of King Charles III, is facing significant financial changes as he will lose his royal allowance, which amounts to 1 million pounds (approximately 1.2 million euros) annually. In addition to this, he will no longer receive reimbursements for his personal security expenses. This major shift is detailed in an updated biography of King Charles set for publication next week.
The upcoming book, authored by the renowned British writer Robert Hardman, is expected to provide a deeper insight into the royal family’s dynamics, as Hardman has previously penned several works focusing on this illustrious lineage.
Prince Andrew’s reputation has become tarnished due to his long-standing ties with the controversial financier Jeffrey Epstein. Epstein, a wealthy American known for hosting lavish parties on his private Caribbean island, was convicted of the sexual exploitation of minors. Following his death—believed to be suicide while awaiting trial—his connections to Prince Andrew have continued to spark outrage.
Despite Epstein’s 2010 conviction, Andrew remained closely linked to him. He faced severe allegations, including claims from Virginia Giuffre, who alleged she was a victim of Epstein’s trafficking network and accused Andrew of sexual assault when she was just 17. Although Andrew has reached a financial settlement with Giuffre, which British media report to be around 14 million euros, the allegations continue to haunt him.
The prince’s public relations efforts took a nosedive following a 2019 interview on the BBC program Newsnight. During this interview, he struggled to address questions regarding his association with Epstein, resulting in a series of baffling statements. The aftermath of this disastrous interview prompted Queen Elizabeth II to remove his military titles and other prestigious royal honors, effectively sidelining him from royal duties.
Stripped of his royal status, Andrew transitioned to a position reliant upon King Charles’ private grants for financial support. Consequently, he has lost his status as a ‘working royal,’ which serves to represent the monarchy while performing official duties.
In a power struggle that has been ongoing for years, King Charles is also dealing with familial tensions regarding Andrew’s living situation. The king previously mandated that Andrew vacate his royal residence, the sprawling Royal Lodge, which boasts thirty opulent rooms and has been his home since 2004.
Charles is pushing for Andrew to relocate to Frogmore Cottage, a significantly smaller residence with just five rooms, which has remained vacant since Prince Harry’s move to California. However, Andrew has resisted these demands, prompting Charles to take drastic measures.
In a bid to force Prince Andrew’s hand, the king has cut off his funding in hopes that he will be unable to sustain the substantial maintenance costs for the Royal Lodge, thus bringing an end to the financial burden on the monarchy.
Illion euros, the scandal has left a lasting stain on his royal reputation.
The Fallout of a Disastrous Interview
In 2019, Prince Andrew did himself no favors with a disastrous interview on the BBC’s Newsnight. What was meant to be a moment of clarity turned into a surreal display of denial and absurdity. His attempts to explain his ties to Epstein were as likely to succeed as a cat trying to swim! The public backlash was swift and severe, prompting Queen Elizabeth to strip him of his military titles and honorary positions. After that cringe-worthy performance, the decision to distance the royal family from Andrew became not only necessary but inevitable.
Forced to Downsize
Fast forward to today, and King Charles is reportedly keen for Andrew to vacate his palatial digs, the Royal Lodge, which boasts thirty lavish rooms on the grounds of Windsor Castle—a far cry from the modest Frogmore Cottage previously inhabited by Prince Harry. It seems Charles is determined to send his brother packing into a much smaller abode, perhaps as a symbolic gesture of cutting ties with the past.( Will he comply, or will he dig his heels in and remain in the lavish royal residence? It remains to be seen.
No Cash, No Comfort?
By cutting off Andrew’s funds, the king is not only lessening his financial burden but also attempting to encourage him to move to the smaller Frogmore Cottage. It’s royal tough love, or perhaps a strategy to remove a sour note from the royal symphony. Royal insiders have claimed that Andrew is no longer a financial burden, but this remains heavily disputed among the public, who still view him as a troubled figure of the monarchy.
Royal Soap Opera Awaits
As we await Robert Hardman’s upcoming biography, the royal family continues to exhibit dynamics reminiscent of a soap opera—full of scandal, intrigue, and unexpected twists. Whether Prince Andrew will trade his spacious royal castle for a humble cottage will surely be a topic everyone is waiting to watch unfold. In the world of royal affairs, one thing is for sure: the drama will be nothing short of captivating!
With a blend of tradition and the modern world constantly colliding within the royal family, one can’t help but get swept away in the whirlwind of emotions, scandals, and perhaps a hint of schadenfreude. Let’s sit back, grab our popcorn, and watch as this royal family saga continues to play out in the public eye. Cheers to the unpredictable British monarchy!
