Prince William is keeping his distance from crucial talks between King Charles and Prince Andrew regarding the disgraced royal’s residency at Royal Lodge.
The future King is said to be keen on resolving the dispute but has avoided direct involvement due to his fondness for his cousins, Princess Beatrice and Princess Eugenie.
Last week, Andrew surrendered the use of his titles, including the Duke of York mantle, amid mounting scandals relating to his relationship with Jeffrey Epstein and links to China.
Following the decision, he is now understood to be in advanced talks with the Palace over staying at the 30-room residence of Royal Lodge, where he had lived effectively rent free since 2003.
The Prince of Wales has been said to been consulted on the move that saw his uncle relinquish his dukedom in name and other privileges.
While he has continued to stress the importance of resolving the thorny issue of Andrew’s accommodation, he has not taken direct action as he maintains warm relations with Beatrice and Eugenie.
William is understood to have made clear to the 37 and 35-year-old sisters that they remain blameless in the matter of their father’s fall from grace.
He has also been part of the assurances offered to the pair by the Royal Family that their own tenancy in royal residences remains unthreatened, The Telegraph reported.
Prince William has not been involved in debating Prince Andrew’s residency at Royal Lodge beccause of his bond with Beatrice and Eugenie
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Beatrice currently lives in St James’s Palace while Eugenie calls Ivy Cottage at Kensington Palace home, with both sisters residing with their husbands and young children.
The move comes as it was suggested William would be seeking to keep his cousins close when he ascends to the throne.
The sisters would continue to receive invitations to both family occasions and state functions, a stark contrast to his reported plans for their parents.
William is understood to be considering a more “ruthless” approach with his uncle as he remains “unsatisfied” with how the situation has been handled.
William is believed to planning to keep his cousins within the royal fold
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The Prince of Wales’s hardline stance is also believed to encompass Sarah Ferguson, Andrew’s former wife, who has also been embroiled in the Epstein scandal and similarly lost the use of her Duchess of York title.
William’s bond with Beatrice and Eugenie regarding Prince Andrew’s future at Royal Lodge may complicate matters, as the royal is understood to be determined to remain close to his daughters in Windsor.
Suggested alternatives to Royal Lodge in Scotland and Norfolk have not appealed to him as they would put considerably more distance between him and his immediate family.
On Friday, it emerged that Andrew and King Charles were locked in negotiations over his future at the Grade-II listed palatial residence.
Prince Andrew is currently in talks with King Charles over vacting Royal Lodge
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Although Prince Andrew initially resisted, pointing to five decades remaining on his prepaid tenancy, Palace insiders now detect increasing acceptance that relocation is unavoidable.
His “cast iron” lease presents legal obstacles to eviction, prompting Buckingham Palace to pursue voluntary surrender instead.
Another major sticking point remains financial settlements for Andrew’s substantial investments in the property.
Records indicate that the Prince entered into a 75-year lease for the property in 2003, making an initial payment of £1m.
According to a National Audit Office report, he was additionally obligated to contribute £7.5m towards renovations that were finalised in 2005.
