Prince Andrew Sets Sights On Prince Harry's Former Home Amid Renewed Royal Lodge Drama

The Royal Family's wish to downgrade Prince Andrew to Frogmore Cottage may happen sooner rather than later, according to sources.

The disgraced royal, who recently agreed to stop using his other titles and honors, had fiercely opposed his removal from the Royal Lodge. However, sources implied he was finally ready to accept Prince Harry and Meghan Markle's former home.

Prince Andrew's possible relocation follows King Charles' renewed interest in downgrading his younger brother's living arrangements after his fall from grace. The royal's name was marred by his past relationship with the late child sex offender, Jeffrey Epstein.

According to new reports, Andrew and the Royal Family are in talks regarding his exit from the prestigious Royal Lodge. The former Duke of York has been residing in the 30-room property for years with his ex-wife, Sarah Ferguson.

A friend of the former couple told The Sun that Andrew and Ferguson were willing to leave the Royal Lodge, provided they received new homes in return. Andrew allegedly wanted Harry and Meghan's Frogmore Cottage, while Ferguson asked for Prince William and Kate Middleton's Adelaide Cottage.

"Andy is willing to leave, but these are his demands. He is realistic and knows the writing is on the wall and that his time at Royal Lodge is up," the former couple's pal claimed.

They added that it was surprising Andrew and Ferguson wanted separate homes after living together for years, despite their 1996 divorce.

According to the insider, Andrew and Ferguson's request for separate homes implied that there might have been tensions between them. Their pal noted that they had not had the best year and probably needed a break from each other.

"It's a fresh start for both. Frogmore Cottage is too small for both, and Adelaide Cottage is around the corner, so they will see each other whenever they want," the insider added. They noted that their possible new homes were also big enough to house their daughters if they visited.

Other pals weighed in on the duo's demands for new homes, claiming that Ferguson always believed she got the short end of the stick in her divorce from Andrew. She allegedly felt cheated because the late Princess Diana had received £17million, while she got £600,000-£800,000.

Andrew and Ferguson's alleged demands for new homes follow The Blast's recent coverage of the Royal Lodge drama. The disgraced royal sparked media outrage after the terms of his residence at the 30-room property were unveiled.

The contract featured favorable terms for Andrew, revealing that he was allowed to live on the property on a "peppercorn" rent. This meant that he had basically been living rent-free for years after paying £1 million [$1.3 million] for the 75-year lease in 2003.

Additionally, Andrew spent £7.5 million [$9.9 million] on refurbishments, which were completed two years later. The favorable terms continued, with an alleged clause that granted him approximately £558,000 [$743,000] if he surrendered the lease early.

Andrew's decision to surrender his remaining royal titles and honors follows the renewed interest in his relationship with the late sex offender, Epstein. The Blast shared that his woes increased after the release of royal biographer Andrew Lownie's new book, "Entitled: The Rise and Fall of the House of York."

The book painted Andrew in a negative light, claiming that he was far from the class, grace, and nobility associated with members of the Royal Family. Lownie shared several allegations, including a fight between Andrew and his nephew, Prince Harry.

The alleged fight depicted in the book sparked a heated response from the Duke of Sussex's side. He supported his uncle indirectly through a statement from his team that confirmed the feud allegations were false. Additionally, Harry sent a legal letter through his counsel to stop the spread of false narratives.

After agreeing to abandon his remaining titles and honors, The Blast reported that Andrew received a treatment equivalent to treason against the Royal Family. His banner, housing his coat of arms, has been removed from St. George's Chapel. 

Andrew's banner, which previously stood next to Prince William's inside the chapel, has since been taken down. Such actions were typically taken in cases of high treason or rebellion against the Crown, but in Andrew's case, they showcased the extent of his fall from grace.

The former Duke had his flag hung in 2006 following his appointment as a Knight of the Order of the Garter, a chivalric order founded in the 14th century. The title was among the honors he recently lost following the public's renewed interest in his relationship with the late sex offender, Epstein.