Royal Lodge in Windsor Great Park,the home of the Duke of York
Credit: Shutterstock
The Duke of York plans to bequeath the lease of his Windsor home to his two daughters after his death,it has been reported.
Prince Andrew,64,may leave the rest of the 75-year lease agreement on Royal Lodge to Princesses Beatrice and Eugenie,according to the Daily Mail.
It comes amid ongoing wrangling between the disgraced Duke and the monarch about his living situation in the 30-bedroom home in Windsor Great Park.
The King,who is said to be losing patience with his younger brother,has reportedly threatened to withdraw the funding of more than £4 million a year which allows Andrew to keep living in the house,which has extensive upkeep requirements.
The terms of the Duke’s 75-year lease agreement with the Crown Estate,which was signed in 2003 and runs out in 2079,could see him forced to repaint his Windsor home “with two coats of paint” every five years.
Prince Andrew plans to leave the lease to Royal Lodge to Princess Beatrice and Princess Eugenie
Credit: Dave Benett
It states he must “repair,renew,uphold,clean and keep in repair and where necessary rebuild” the home.
The King,75,has made clear that he is not willing to continue to fund his brother’s lifestyle at the 93-acre property,where the Duke currently lives and shares with his ex-wife Sarah,Duchess of York.
The Daily Mail also reported that the Duke would prefer to leave the home to the Duchess,but the lease specifies it can only be passed to his children or his widow.
The King has reportedly told his younger brother,who was forced to step down as a working royal over his association with the late convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein,to vacate the property and downsize to nearby Frogmore Cottage - previously the home of the Duke and Duchess of Sussex.
The Duke signed a 75-year lease agreement with the Crown Estate in 2003
Credit: Mark Kerrison
However,Andrew has been reluctant to vacate the property,which has proved a bone of contention over the last year.
His lease requirement to maintain security as well as the stringent and expensive upkeep of the home will require the Duke to conjure up a small fortune with no discernible income should the King decide to pull the purse strings.
A source close to the monarch previously told The Times that the move can be done “with grace and dignity or it can be forced upon him”.
The Telegraph previously reported that the Duke intends to honour the terms of the lease he signed in 2003,which has 55 more years to run.
Buckingham Palace has declined to comment.
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