PRINCE WILLIAM'S LONGHELD GRUDGE AGAINST ANDREW COULD BE KEY IN ROYAL LODGE ROW

Prince William has long held a "grudge" against Prince Andrew over his treatment of Kate Middleton - and it could prove key in his uncle losing Royal Lodge.

That's according to a royal expert, who claims the root of the Prince of Wales' resentment towards the Duke of York is said to stem from Andrew's treatment of Kate when she was first introduced to the Royal Family.

Prince Andrew stepped back from public duties in 2020 after a disastrous interview with BBC Newsnight and, notably, the friction between him and Prince William dates before that occasion. In the start of 2022, Buckingham Palace stated that Andrew relinquished his military titles and Royal patronages, returning them to the Queen.

Consequently, he has maintained a low profile, an occurrence some accredit to the influence of the now King Charles and Prince William. Intriguingly, Prince William is speculated to have been instrumental in ejecting Prince Andrew from his office at Buckingham Palace and unequivocal about keeping Andrew out of official Royal functions.

There are whispers that the future King might also be the behind-the-scenes pushing King Charles to oust Andrew from the Royal Lodge. Royal writer Richard Kay told Mail Online that William has "long held a grudge" against Andrew and feels that Charles has been 'too soft' on him.

READ MORE: Prince Harry told the key to ending feud with Royal family is admitting one 'huge mistake'

He wrote: "Differences between monarch and heir do remain, especially when it comes to the Prince Andrew scandal. William has long held a grudge against Andrew for being unwelcoming when he first introduced the then Kate Middleton to the Royal Family and feels that his father has been too soft on him. It has led to speculation that it is William who is pushing his father to evict the Duke of York from Royal Lodge, so the Waleses could move in."

King Charles is reportedly keen on having Prince Andrew swap his luxurious Royal Lodge for the more modest Frogmore Cottage, which was previously occupied by Prince Harry and Meghan Markle, causing a bit of a Royal stir. The proposed move is said to be creating tension between the brothers, with Andrew not too keen on the idea of downsizing.

Royal author and commentator Tom Quinn told The Mirror: "For King Charles, forcing Andrew to move to Frogmore solves several problems at once - it sends a message to Harry that, as a private citizen and no longer a working royal, he will never be allowed back to Frogmore.

"It sends [a] message to Andrew that having disgraced himself, he can no longer expect to live in the grand style. And, finally, it means that a suitably grand residence can be made ready for the royals who really matter - William and Kate. Charles is determined that Royal Lodge is the only residence on the royal estate at Windsor that is big enough and regal enough for his heir."

While it's still uncertain whether William and Kate will take up residence at Royal Lodge if Andrew vacates, a close source to the couple previously revealed that 'taking on Royal Lodge would mean a transformation in the way they lead their lives."

They added: "One of the main reasons why the couple are so content at Adelaide Cottage, their current home in Windsor Great Park, is because it is a family house and there are no live-in staff. Moving into the vast Royal Lodge would mean having to accommodate domestic staff, something they have long resisted."

Speculation is rife about the proposition of transferring the residence to the Duke and Duchess of Edinburgh. Plus, an insider dished dirt to The Sun concerning the house: "It makes sense for Royal Lodge to be handed back to Crown Estates, which can pay for the much-needed repairs and renovations. It could then be rented to earn money for them, the King's coffers and the country rather than being a drain on everyone's resources."

2024-07-04T03:34:11Z dg43tfdfdgfd