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Prince William is said to have issued a dramatic ultimatum to his cousins Princess Beatrice and Princess Eugenie — threatening to strip them of their royal titles unless they convinced their disgraced father to finally vacate Royal Lodge.
The explosive claim was made by broadcaster Emily Maitlis, who famously grilled Prince Andrew in his notorious 2019 Newsnight interview. Maitlis suggested that the Prince of Wales may have met privately with Beatrice and Eugenie last week to deliver the warning as tensions within the family escalated.
The revelation follows reports that Andrew and his ex-wife, Sarah Ferguson, have now agreed in principle to move out of the 30-room Windsor mansion they have shared since 2008, amid continued scrutiny over the Duke’s friendship with Jeffrey Epstein.
According to friends quoted by the Daily Mail, Fergie has been left feeling “with nowhere to go — or anyone else to go with,” as negotiations with Buckingham Palace over the couple’s next move continue behind closed doors.
Some within royal circles have noted that the King bears no legal responsibility toward Sarah Ferguson, who has effectively lived as a “lodger” in her ex-husband’s home for nearly twenty years.
In another twist to the ongoing saga, Emily Maitlis described the media frenzy that unfolded outside Royal Lodge on Thursday night, after reporters were tipped off about a possible new development in the Prince Andrew scandal.
Speaking on The News Agents podcast, Maitlis hinted at what may have sparked the commotion, saying there had been speculation of a meeting earlier in the day between Prince William and Princesses Beatrice and Eugenie. During that alleged conversation, William was said to have warned the sisters that if they failed to persuade their father to vacate Royal Lodge, the Palace could begin reconsidering their own titles.
“They are currently allowed to remain princesses,” Maitlis explained, “but there was, we understand, some pressure being placed on them — a suggestion that change could be coming. Of course, it’s easy to see why Andrew, as a father, would want to keep his daughters happy and protect their titles at all costs.”
She went on to claim that King Charles, fresh from his audience with the Pope at the Vatican, had planned to visit Royal Lodge that evening — a moment expected to signal that he was “reading the riot act” to his brother.
According to Maitlis, journalists had been tipped off by the Palace earlier in the day that there “may be passing traffic” outside Royal Lodge, though no further details were provided.
However, she added that once Palace aides noticed helicopters and camera crews gathering, they became nervous that the situation was spiralling out of control. “They decided to cancel the whole thing,” Maitlis said. “The King simply went straight home and never stopped by.”
In the latest twist to the Royal Lodge saga, reports suggest that the former Duke and Duchess of York have asked Palace officials to provide two separate homes on the Windsor estate if they are to vacate their current residence — one for each of them.
Prince Andrew is said to have requested Prince Harry and Meghan Markle’s former UK home, Frogmore Cottage, while Sarah Ferguson has reportedly expressed interest in nearby Adelaide Cottage — the property expected to be vacated by the Prince and Princess of Wales next month.
However, sources close to the couple, who divorced nearly 30 years ago but continue to live together, have dismissed claims that they demanded two homes, calling the reports “misrepresentative of the truth.”
“It was an option raised by the other side at an early stage in discussions,” one insider explained. “Whether it’s still being considered, I don’t know. But the idea that they’ve demanded a new house each simply isn’t true. No demands have been made — people have just been exploring possible solutions.”
Buckingham Palace has declined to comment, though insiders reportedly “do not recognise” this version of events.
Sources have also suggested that the King may view it as wise to keep Sarah “within the fold,” rather than risk her penning another tell-all book. The Duchess of York has already released two memoirs — one in 1996, the year she divorced Andrew, and another in 2011.
King Charles is also understood to have shown compassion toward his former sister-in-law, particularly following her health struggles after being diagnosed with both breast and skin cancer.
Friends say Sarah is feeling “utterly bereft” and “on the edge,” embarrassed by the renewed scandal surrounding her ex-husband — and by resurfaced reports of a “cringeworthy” 2008 email she wrote to disgraced financier Jeffrey Epstein, apologising for publicly distancing herself from him after his child sex conviction.
It has also been alleged that Sarah Ferguson repeatedly sought financial help from Jeffrey Epstein to cover her mounting personal and business debts.
“She’s deeply remorseful and embarrassed,” a source said, “but she also fears the scandal has fatally damaged her career, including several upcoming fiction releases. People simply don’t want to be associated with her anymore.”
Another friend added: “The truth is, she has nowhere to go and no one to go with if Andrew is forced to leave Royal Lodge. Her future is hanging by a thread.”
Insiders claim that while King Charles has shown patience and compassion toward his former sister-in-law, that patience is wearing thin. “The King is a kind man,” one source said, “but his tolerance has been tested to the limit. The last thing he wants is another Spare-style tell-all causing fresh damage.”
If Andrew and Sarah do part ways, it would mark a bitter end for the pair — once famously described by Fergie herself as “the happiest divorced couple in the world.”
Royal commentators say the couple’s long-running cohabitation has always been one of convenience. Expert Richard Fitzwilliams told the Daily Mail: “Their relationship has been symbiotic. Remember the fake Sheikh scandal when Sarah was caught trying to sell access to Andrew for £500,000? Their arrangement has always been mutually beneficial. They’ve maintained that façade because it suited their lifestyle and financial ambitions.”
He added: “For years, they’ve traded on the image of being the world’s happiest divorced couple. But now that illusion has collapsed. What made them perfect for each other — shared greed and entitlement — has finally driven them apart. Their desire for two separate homes just confirms that the partnership was about comfort and privilege, not companionship.”
The latest twist in the scandal has also reignited anger over Andrew’s financial privileges. It recently emerged that the prince has not paid proper rent on Royal Lodge for two decades, enjoying the property for a mere “peppercorn” payment of rent.
Despite having 50 years left on his prepaid lease, Andrew is now expected to vacate the mansion, though it remains unclear what compensation he may receive for the £7.5 million he spent on renovations.
Fitzwilliams warned that any expectation of two royal homes is “fantasy,” adding: “If they believe having two houses is the solution, they’re still living in a delusion. The King won’t agree to that. Sarah Ferguson’s comeback days are over — she’s in disgrace.”
The late Queen’s former press secretary, Dickie Arbiter, also weighed in, saying bluntly: “It is not the King’s responsibility to house Ms Ferguson.”
To make matters worse for Andrew, MPs are reportedly preparing to discuss his lavish lifestyle and living arrangements in the House of Commons. Parliament is expected to be given the opportunity to debate his scandals, including his friendship with Epstein.
King Charles, who has long wanted the disgraced Duke and Duchess out of Royal Lodge — where Andrew has effectively lived rent-free — now faces renewed backlash over their alleged demand for two separate Windsor homes. The move is likely to spark further public outrage amid growing criticism of Andrew’s royal privileges.
As negotiations continue over Prince Andrew and Sarah Ferguson’s future amid the fallout from the Epstein scandal, a friend told The Sun: “No one is really sure how it’s going to go down at the Palace yet.”
They added: “It’s incredible that they are willing to go their own separate ways. But it indicates that they’ve been under immense strain this year and need a break from one another. It’s a fresh start for both.”
Neither Andrew nor Fergie has demanded any costly renovations or added taxpayer-funded security measures for their prospective new homes, as both Frogmore Cottage and Adelaide Cottage fall within Windsor Castle’s protected perimeter. Discussions are still underway regarding how much rent the pair would be required to pay.
It also remains unclear what will become of Royal Lodge if they vacate it, though insiders believe a new tenant could soon take it over, funding the extensive renovations needed to restore the property.
The Government has so far declined to allow a parliamentary debate on Andrew’s situation, insisting MPs should focus on “important national issues.” However, a Liberal Democrat source hinted to The Sunday Times that the party might use one of its opposition days to raise the matter in the House of Commons.
Andrew, who technically holds the lease until 2078, has reportedly struggled to maintain the sprawling estate despite his rent-free arrangement. One friend admitted: “[Andrew] is realistic and knows the writing is on the wall and that his time at Royal Lodge is up.”
Such a move would mark a major change for the former couple, who — despite divorcing in 1996 — have lived together at Royal Lodge since 2008, when Fergie moved back in. A relocation to Frogmore and Adelaide, respectively, would separate them for the first time in nearly 20 years.
The same friend added: “They’ve been under immense strain this year and need a break from one another. It’s a fresh start for both.”
Still, the two Windsor properties are just minutes apart, allowing the pair to see one another easily. While Frogmore would have been too small for them to share, sources say each home would be spacious enough to host their daughters and families.
Other friends say Fergie believes she deserves a royal residence of her own. The former Duchess has long admitted to financial struggles following her divorce settlement, which was worth between £600,000 and £800,000 — a stark contrast to Princess Diana’s reported £17 million settlement the same year.
Even so, Adelaide Cottage would hardly match the grandeur of Royal Lodge. The Grade II-listed Georgian mansion boasts 40 hectares of parkland — roughly 60 football pitches — and features a grand drawing room, a conservatory, seven bedrooms, and a 50-foot-long saloon. After the £7.5 million refurbishment completed when Andrew took over the lease from the Queen Mother, the estate would now be valued at up to £30 million.
By comparison, Adelaide Cottage is considered a “modest” four-bedroom family home. Refurbished in 2015, it became the residence of the Prince and Princess of Wales three years ago. The updates preserved its historic charm, including golden dolphins and rope decorations from a 19th-century royal yacht adorning the master bedroom. The main reception room also features a Greco-Egyptian fireplace — a perfect winter retreat for Fergie.
Once home to Group Captain Peter Townsend, who had a famous romance with Princess Margaret, the property would likely fetch around £6 million if placed on the market.
Frogmore Cottage offers similar comfort, featuring five bedrooms, four bathrooms, and a nursery. The Grade II-listed residence — formed by merging two smaller properties — was gifted to the Duke and Duchess of Sussex in 2018 as a wedding present from the late Queen.
Harry and Meghan spent £2.4 million in taxpayer funds renovating it with luxury fittings, including underfloor heating, a copper bathtub, and vegan paint — before later repaying the full cost. The couple stepped back as working royals in 2020 and relocated to California shortly afterward.
They were reportedly evicted from Frogmore in 2023 following the publication of Harry’s explosive memoir Spare.
Though the Palace stated earlier this year that there were “no immediate plans” for anyone to move in, the property could sell for around £5 million or command a monthly rent of approximately £30,000.
It has also been reported that Andrew was offered a luxurious residence in Abu Dhabi by Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, but the disgraced royal is said to have declined, determined to remain in Britain close to his daughters and grandchildren.
The ongoing row over Royal Lodge follows Prince Andrew’s decision last week to surrender his remaining royal titles, as controversy over his relationship with convicted paedophile financier Jeffrey Epstein continues to escalate.
Andrew has relinquished his dukedom, his membership in the prestigious Order of the Garter — Britain’s oldest order of chivalry — and his title as Knight Grand Cross of the Royal Victorian Order.
While he remains a prince by birth as the son of the late Queen Elizabeth II, his ex-wife is now known simply as Sarah Ferguson.
The Palace’s latest move marked a further step in distancing the Royal Family from the disgraced royal, coming two years after Andrew was stripped of his HRH status and forced to withdraw from public duties in 2022.
The decision capped off a week of grim headlines for the monarchy, as fresh allegations surfaced in a posthumous memoir by Andrew’s accuser, Virginia Giuffre, who took her own life earlier this year at the age of 41.
Her book, Nobody’s Girl: A Memoir of Surviving Abuse and Fighting for Justice, is due for release in October and was completed before her death.
The explosive 400-page autobiography details her years under the control of Epstein and his associate Ghislaine Maxwell. In excerpts published by The Guardian, Giuffre — who alleged she was trafficked by Epstein for sex with Andrew on three occasions — branded the former Duke “entitled” and claimed he viewed sex as his “birthright.”
She also described an alleged first encounter when she was 17, claiming Andrew said “thank you” in a “clipped British accent” afterwards, while Maxwell allegedly told her: “You did well, the Prince had fun.”
Andrew has consistently denied all allegations of sexual assault but reached an out-of-court settlement with Giuffre in February 2022, reportedly paying millions to avoid a trial.
The Royal Family was said to have braced for renewed scandal ahead of the memoir’s publication — but tensions surged further when The Mail on Sunday published leaked emails between Andrew and Epstein.
In one shocking exchange, Andrew wrote to Epstein “we are in this together” just a day after the newspaper revealed the now-infamous photograph of him with Giuffre.
He expressed concern over the fallout from the story but reassured the disgraced financier that they would “rise above” the scrutiny.
The email, sent 12 weeks after Andrew claimed to have severed all contact with Epstein, has intensified fears that more damning communications could still emerge.
The leaked email offers damning proof that Prince Andrew lied during his disastrous Newsnight interview with the BBC, where he insisted he had “never had any contact” with Jeffrey Epstein following their infamous stroll through New York’s Central Park in December 2010.
The revelation surfaced just weeks after The Mail on Sunday revealed that Sarah Ferguson had sent Epstein a fawning message, describing him as her “supreme friend” — despite publicly vowing never to associate with him again.
Writing to Epstein on February 28, 2011 — just a day after the newspaper published the notorious photograph of him with teenage Virginia Giuffre that marked the beginning of his downfall — Andrew wrote: “I’m just as concerned for you! Don’t worry about me! It would seem we are in this together and will have to rise above it. Otherwise, keep in close touch and we’ll play some more soon!!!!”
He signed the email: “A, HRH The Duke of York, KG.”
The initials KG refer to his title as Knight of the Garter, one of the highest honours in the British order of chivalry — a title he held from 2006 until it was revoked last Friday.
The embarrassing correspondence has piled further pressure on Buckingham Palace to cut all remaining ties with the disgraced Duke and Duchess of York, while also reigniting debate over their residence at Royal Lodge.
According to insiders, internal discussions over Andrew’s future began weeks ago, after Prince William was reportedly left “seething” by his uncle’s behaviour at the Duchess of Kent’s funeral last month. Andrew was photographed sidling up to the Prince and Princess of Wales, an act William is said to have viewed as inappropriate and disrespectful to the solemn occasion.
Downing Street has also allegedly urged the Palace to address the scandal, which has dragged on for years and led to Andrew’s withdrawal from public duties in 2019. The pressure from No. 10 reportedly intensified after fresh scrutiny emerged over Andrew’s meetings with senior Beijing official Cai Qi in 2018 and 2019 — amid fears he may have been drawn into the ongoing Chinese spying controversy.
Following his and Sarah Ferguson’s agreement to relinquish their remaining titles, Buckingham Palace released a rare statement on Andrew’s behalf — the first since his ill-fated Newsnight appearance in 2019.
It read: “In discussion with The King, and my immediate and wider family, we have concluded the continued accusations about me distract from the work of His Majesty and the Royal Family. I have decided, as I always have, to put my duty to my family and country first. I stand by my decision five years ago to stand back from public life. With His Majesty’s agreement, we feel I must now go a step further. I will therefore no longer use my title or the honours which have been conferred upon me. As I have said previously, I vigorously deny the accusations against me.”
