Prince Andrew, the Duke of York, is walking a very fine line of royal family inner tensions. He continues to be dogged by scandals involving his gaudy residence, the Royal Lodge in Windsor. This outstanding 30-bedroom mansion is located on 21 acres of gorgeous grounds. For more than 20 years, he’s made it home with just a dollar-a-year “peppercorn rent.” As the case progresses, dramatic shifts have occurred around his name, familial connections and home address.
For over two decades now, Prince Andrew has been living in the Royal Lodge at little to no cost. Yet, in 2005, he was forced to pay £7.5 million — the amount he had agreed to contribute to refurbishments already made to the property. Andrew has surrendered all of his royal titles. This decision follows unprecedented scrutiny and public outrage over his previous affiliations.
Parliament must pass a new Act of Parliament to formally remove Prince Andrew’s titles. That process is already starting. Once again, his ex-wife Sarah Ferguson is dominating tabloid news. She made news this week by announcing that she would no longer be using her courtesy title, Duchess of York. Rather, she is going to go back to her pre-marriage name, Sarah Ferguson. Princess Beatrice and Princess Eugenie, though less senior than their cousins, are protected by these changes and will not lose their princess titles.
Princess Beatrice was recently seen riding solo in an electric Range Rover. She was en route to see her father and Ferguson at the Royal Lodge. The princess is the mother of two daughters: four-year-old Sienna and ten-month-old Athena. She has become a powerful fixture of the royal family, in part thanks to her father’s own controversies. She lives in an apartment at St James’s Palace in London and has a house in the Cotswolds.
The King wants to ensure that Princess Beatrice doesn’t lose her royal title of Princess. Small mercies He too wants the same for Princess Eugenie, as she goes through this stormy patch. Recent reports indicate that they were invited to join the royal family for gatherings at Sandringham over Christmas and other family events.
“one peppercorn (if demanded)” – The Times and Hello Magazine
As the dust settles on Prince Andrew’s tumultuous royal journey, the implications for his family’s titles and roles within the monarchy remain significant. The ongoing developments reflect a broader narrative of change within the royal family as they navigate public perception and personal relationships.
