Prince Andrew takes up new hobby after threat of eviction from crumbling Royal Lodge home
Prince Andrew has turned his hand to gardening, as he aims to spruce up his crumbling Royal Lodge home while under the threat of eviction. The Duke of York, who was pictured alongside the family on Easter Sunday, has been described as having 'a spring in his step', busying himself by pottering around the Windsor estate and even asking groundsmen for gardening tips.
Andrew is locked in a bitter dispute with his brother, King Charles, over him continuing to live at the 30 room mansion Royal Lodge in the shadow of Windsor Castle, despite major repairs being needed on the property. The King even offered Andrew, who was forced to step back from all royal duties after his close relationship with a convicted paedophile was exposed, the chance to move into the four bedroom Frogmore Cottage, previously owned by Prince Harry and his wife Meghan that would be more manageable.
But the disgraced Duke has insisted on staying put, claiming he will be able to pay the estimated £2million renovation fees desperately needed. Royal sources suggest the so-called 'Siege of Royal Lodge' has led to a drastic state of relations between the King and Andrew.
However, after the death of the late Queen Elizabeth II, the King decided that his brother would be allowed to attend family events, such as Easter and Christmas gatherings.
Andrew has told close friends he is 'going nowhere' and told the King and the Crown Estate who own Royal Lodge, that he has a 'cast iron lease' that he signed for 75 years in 2002. Work did start on the roof and crumbling facade of the property last year but has since ground to a halt.
The Duke's finances have been shrouded in mystery after he was forced in February 2022 to pay £12million to Virgina Giuffre, a woman who accused him of sexually assaulting her on three occasions in 2001.
Now sources say he is looking to project manage renovations himself and even taking on some of the landscaping in a bid to save money. One royal source said: 'The Duke has been walking round the estate a lot recently, speaking to staff and asking for tips on managing the grounds.
'The whole place has fallen into disrepair and needs a lot of attention. "He's been asking about different kinds of trees and shrubs and whether it would be possible to move or relocate certain trees.
"He's certainly got a spring in his step and is a lot cheerier of late, which is surprising given everything he has going on.'
After being outcast from royal life, Andrew, 65, spent months moping around in his house, watching TV in a dark room.
He was forced to miss the royals' Christmas gathering at Sandringham in Norfolk after being dragged into a scandal involving an alleged Chinese spy who he went into business with and was later banned from entering Britain.
But staff on the estate say he has been invigorated by being invited back into the family picture.
Reports today suggested the disgraced Duke could be in line for a dramatic return to royal life, with the King keen that he is not outcast forever.
But well placed sources have told The Mirror any chance of redemption 'will never happen'. The source added that Prince William 's central role in the monarchy would prevent his uncle from ever returning to the fold, believing Andrew to be 'utterly toxic' for the royal brand.
Our source added: 'He's no Alan Titchmarsh but he's certainly showing a different kind of enthusiasm for finding ways to stay in his house.'
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Daily Mirror
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