Princess Kate and Prince William have been branded the “logical choice” to move into Royal Lodge amid the current bitter feud with Prince Andrew, however, the Duke and Duchess of Edinburgh may also be considered, a royal commentator has claimed.
The Duke of York and King Charles are currently involved in a bitter feud over the royal residence based in Windsor Great Park.
Prince Andrew signed a 75-year lease agreement with the Crown Estate for the Royal Lodge in 2003.
The lease has 54 years remaining on it and Andrew plans to honour the terms of the agreement.
Kate and William’s approach ‘leaves door open for Edinburghs’ to move into Andrew’s home
Getty
However, King Charles is urging his brother to give up the Royal Lodge and downsize to Frogmore Cottage.
Prince Harry and Meghan Markle were using Frogmore as their UK base, but the King evicted the couple last year.
Prince Andrew is currently refusing to leave Royal Lodge, with reportedplans to pass his lease over to Princess Beatrice and Princess Eugenie after his death.
Gareth Russell, a royal author, spoke exclusively to GB News to explain who would be best suited to move into Royal Lodge if the Duke of York leaves.
He said: “Royal Lodge has a high-profile history within the Royal Family. Bear in mind, it was the last home of Queen Elizabeth, the Queen Mother. So it’s traditionally been assigned to senior royals.
“The logical choice, of course, would be the Prince and Princess of Wales, but they’ve shown relatively little interest in moving home again. They seem quite content where they are. It could be the Duke and Duchess of Edinburgh.”
Prince Edward, 60, and his wife Sophie, 59, have lived in Bagshot Park since their wedding in 1999. Russell also suggested that Royal Lodge could have no inhabitants in future years.
He continued: “However, it could also be that this is part of another move by the King to slim down or shake up the royal property portfolio.
Prince Edward and Sophie have also been involved in rumours surrounding Royal Lodge
PA
“It’s not the case that we’re seeing them being replaced by other royals as much as they were in the past.
“So it may be that Royal Lodge is just put to different use once Prince Andrew leaves. It’s possible that no one will go into Royal Lodge.
“I think we’re at the start of an era in which the older rules on royal properties don’t apply and we won’t be able to make the same predictions.
“Charles III has shown that he is quite content to really shake things up, and that when properties become vacant, it doesn’t necessarily mean they’ll be replaced with other royal residents as they would have been in the time of Queen Elizabeth II.”
