Controversial Prince Andrew in talks to leave Royal Estate
Kyiv • UNN
Prince Andrew is in talks with King Charles about leaving the Royal Country Residence, where he has lived for over 20 years. This comes amid public backlash over a free lease agreement and his involvement in the Epstein case.
In Great Britain, pressure is growing on Prince Andrew and his ex-wife Sarah Ferguson - they are being offered to "leave the Royal Estate." The brother of King Charles III, who is mired in scandals and the Epstein case, is simultaneously negotiating to settle in the former homes of Princes William and Harry.
UNN reports with reference to DailyMail.
Details
Prince Andrew is in talks with King Charles about "leaving the Royal Estate" amid public backlash over his free lease agreement, as well as in light of revelations in the Epstein case, in which the former Duke of York was also implicated.
Prince Andrew is expected to soon leave his Windsor residence, where he has lived for over 20 years. At the same time, he and his ex-wife Sarah Ferguson are allegedly "demanding the former homes of Princes William and Harry."
Context
Last week, it became known that Prince Andrew had effectively paid no rent for 22 years as part of a "peppercorn agreement." This sparked a wave of criticism.
According to the Daily Mail, court documents showed that Andrew paid £1 million ($1.3 million) in 2003 for a 75-year lease. He then added £7.5 million ($9.9 million) for renovations completed two years later.
However, the agreement reportedly requires Andrew to pay annual rent only upon request. The agreement also contains a clause that entitles him to approximately £558,000 ($743,000) if he terminates the lease early.
The agreement was thoroughly scrutinized after it became known that key details of the lease were removed from the version of the lease agreement filed with the Land Registry.
Earlier, Andrew's ex-wife, Sarah Ferguson, added fuel to the scandal. A number of charities severed ties with her after the disclosure of a 2011 email to Jeffrey Epstein, in which the ex-Duchess of York called the latter her "best friend."
On October 17, Andrew announced that he was renouncing the use of his royal titles. He is no longer the Duke of York. Interestingly, this is the first time in over 100 years that a senior member of the royal family has stopped using a ducal title.
The last time this happened was when Queen Victoria's grandson, the Duke of Albany, was stripped of his title in 1917 for fighting on the German side during World War I.
The ex-Duke is now negotiating to leave his 30-room Grade II listed mansion on the Windsor estate. However, Andrew wishes to remain in or near Windsor, if possible, or closer to London, where his daughters live.
Prince Andrew and his ex-wife Sarah Ferguson are allegedly demanding the former homes of Princes William and Harry in exchange for leaving Royal Lodge, the DailyMail writes.
Recall
In her book "The Girl Who Knew Too Much," one of Jeffrey Epstein's most prominent accusers, Virginia Giuffre, revealed that Prince Andrew's team tried to hire "internet trolls" to harass her while he was hiding at Balmoral Castle. The memoirs detail the confidential settlement of a sexual assault lawsuit and shed light on the hidden mechanisms of the royal family's influence.