The ongoing Royal Lodge dispute has reportedly escalated, with claims that Prince William is pressuring his cousins Princess Beatrice and Princess Eugenie to convince their father, Prince Andrew, to vacate the royal property.
According to reports, Buckingham Palace has been urging the disgraced Duke of York to leave the 30-bedroom mansion voluntarily amid mounting public criticism over his rent-free residence at the Grade II–listed estate.
Journalist Emily Maitlis, who famously interviewed Prince Andrew for the BBC’s Newsnight in 2019, revealed on her podcast The News Agents that speculation is growing around William’s involvement. She said sources suggest that the Prince of Wales may have urged his cousins to intervene, allegedly warning that their royal titles could come under review if Andrew refuses to move.
Maitlis described a media frenzy outside Royal Lodge on Thursday night after reports that King Charles was expected to visit the estate. However, as helicopters and cameras gathered, the palace reportedly cancelled the plan due to the growing media attention.
She added, “There was a question over whether there had been, earlier in the day, a meeting between Prince William and the princesses, Beatrice and Eugenie, saying, ‘You guys have to get your dad to move out of Royal Lodge, otherwise we will start re-examining the state of your own titles.’”
Maitlis continued, “They are, at the moment, allowed to be princesses, but there was a bit of pressure, we understand, being put on them. Obviously, you can see why Andrew, as a father, would want to keep his daughters happy and keep their titles in place, come what may.”
Prince Andrew has lived at Royal Lodge since 2003 alongside his ex-wife Sarah Ferguson. The property’s future has become a point of contention within the royal family as King Charles reportedly seeks to streamline royal residences and expenditures.
