King Charles Makes ‘Peace Offering’ to Prince Andrew As Royal Lodge Dispute Continues
Their different views on the future of the Royal Lodge aren’t stopping King Charles III and Prince Andrew from getting together over the holidays. The royal brothers may reportedly spend time together on Christmas Day after a “peace offering” from the king.
King Charles has invited Prince Andrew to Christmas dinner as a ‘peace offering’
Sure, Andrew and King Charles are—and have been for some time now—fighting about the Royal Lodge, the mansion the Duke of York’s called home since the early 2000s. (Andrew has a 75-year lease on the Windsor, England, property.) But that doesn’t mean they’re letting the dispute get in the way during the holidays.
According to a report from the U.K.’s Mirror, “[D]espite the ongoing row, Andrew is expected to attend the family celebration despite being exiled from official royal duties in 2019.” Andrew retreated from the public eye and royal duties following a disastrous Newsnight interview about his friendship with convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein.
Andrew’s expected to join other British royals such as Prince William, Kate Middleton, and their three children—Prince George, Princess Charlotte, and Prince Louis—and Prince Edward and Sophie, the Duke and Duchess of Edinburgh and their two kids. His daughters, Princess Beatrice and Princess Eugenie are also expected to be there.
It comes after months of disagreement between the brothers. King Charles has wanted Andrew to downsize for some time, an idea Andrew doesn’t like. Now, however, the Duke of York’s not getting a $1.3 million allowance, royal author Robert Hardman wrote in Charles III: New King. New Court. The Inside Story.
The king wants ‘family unity’ during the holiday season
So, why has King Charles given Andrew an olive branch despite their ongoing battle over the Royal Lodge? Because it’s the holidays and he wants to uphold a certain image of the British royal family.
“Insiders indicate that The King is adamant about maintaining family unity, particularly during the Christmas season,” per the U.K.’s Express. For that reason, the king’s said to have “made a peace offering” to Andrew by inviting him to the family’s annual Christmas dinner.
The publication also suggested the king has made family relationships a top priority following his February 2024 cancer diagnosis. (His treatment is ongoing.)
Gone is any idea of a quiet Christmas. King Charles reportedly has plans to throw “a grand Christmas party in order to bolster family unity after a year marred by health concerns.” Not only did the king get his own cancer diagnosis this year but so did Kate Middleton, 42, and Sarah Ferguson, Andrew’s ex-wife.
“Royal insiders” told the outlet “how Charles has been touring the estate and main house this week, busy liaising with staff about Christmas plans.”
Andrew must maintain the Royal Lodge for it to stay in the York family
To keep the Royal Lodge in his immediate family for the long term, Andrew has to, according to Robin Edwards of Curetons, a London-based property buying agency, maintain it.
“As long as Prince Andrew can continue to pay the not insignificant upkeep costs of maintaining Royal Lodge as per the terms of his 2003 lease, King Charles and the freeholder, the Crown Estate, won’t be able to turf him or his descendants out,” Edwards told the U.K.’s GB News.
Previous reports claimed Andrew wanted to outlive his older brother (King Charles is 77, Andrew is 64) before passing the Royal Lodge on to his oldest daughter, Princess Beatrice, 36. Whatever happens, the Duke of York is facing millions in upkeep costs.
“The 75-year lease agreement, in lieu of rent, requires Andrew to undertake refurbishments of Royal Lodge at his own expense,” Edwards said, noting the figure was “conservatively estimated at £7.5 million,” or approximately $9.5 million, in 2002.
“The costs are likely to have grown significantly since then with time and inflation,” they added, saying repairs are presumably complex due to it being a historic home. Not to mention that it “reportedly requires a huge amount of work” as it’s said to have mold issues, “crumbling stonework, and peeling paint,” just to name a few.
