Prince Andrew facing ‘problem’ over disclosing source of Royal Lodge funds, expert reveals

Prince Andrew has made assurances that he has access to “legitimate means” to stay in his home at Royal Lodge, but royal experts have pointed out a major problem.

In a recent episode of The Royal Beat, titled ‘A Royal Red Carpet’, experts shared their views with host Kate Thornton about the ongoing dispute.

In recent months, and have reportedly been embroiled in a row over the tenancy of the £30million Windsor Great Park property.

Andrew has reportedly been struggling to pay for the mansion’s upkeep, believed to be £400,000 annually, with the King also cutting his living allowance and no longer paying for his security expenses.

Meanwhile, Andrew has reportedly secured funds from an anonymous source to continue living in the property. Thornton asked Kate Mansey, the royal editor of The Times, whether has the “means” to pay for the 30-room mansion.

Kate said: “Previously, he was there on the largesse of his older brother, the King. This wasn’t public money; this was money from the King’s private fund.”

Thornton queried whether this was a “carry-on” from the previous support provided by his mother, the late , to which Mansey replied: “That’s right.

“To stay in Royal Lodge, which is outside that security perimeter, incidentally, at Windsor stands on its own, so it has its own security. So, that’s a kind of revolving door of, you know, security 24/7 on that place.

“And part of that lease requires him to keep painting it inside and out on a, kind of, five and seven-yearly basis. So there are responsibilities that come with that commercial lease that he has to upkeep. That’s not cheap.”

She said that Andrew has “assured” the Keeper of the Privy Purse, Sir Michael Stevens, that he has “funds through legitimate means” because, previously, there have been “questions over where Andrew’s money comes from”.

Kate continued: “We know that Jeffrey Epstein gave £15,000 to Sarah Ferguson, Andrew’s former wife. And he was the convicted sex offender who…that relationship got Andrew into so much, you know, hot water.”

Meanwhile, Matt Wilkinson, The Sun’s Royal editor, later added: “He’s then…if that turns out to be, and as discussed, his history that he has had, you know, problems with where he’s received money in the past, if it turns out there are issues with this money or the donor, you drag the King and the royal household back in again.”

Kate went on to point out Andrew will require “quite a lot of money” to live there for the rest of his life.

In 2012, the Duchess of York, , issued an apology for accepting money from Epstein to help pay her debts.

Speaking to the she admitted to “a gigantic error of judgement” but defended Andrew, who has vehemently denied all allegations against him following his friendship with the disgraced financier.

Royal Lodge has become a retreat for Andrew after stepping back from his public duties, and he is believed to be spending time playing golf and horse-riding.

He also reportedly enjoys visits from his two daughters, and , who often visit the Duke on weekends with their children.