Royal expert Jennie Bond has reflected on Prince Andrew as he approaches his 65th birthday, including his source of Royal Lodge cash, which has been under immense scrutiny

Prince Andrew will mark his 65th birthday next week, but the celebrations could be tainted by the disputes that surround him, including the funds used to reside at the sprawling Royal Lodge.

The Duke has come under enormous scrutiny after he stepped back as a working royal in 2019, following his controversial friendship with convicted paedophile Jeffrey Epstein. Since then, Andrew has not received public funding. He currently lives in the 30-room Royal Lodge home in Windsor with his ex-wife, Sarah Ferguson. He’s remained at the property, which has a long-term lease, despite his brother, King Charles, reportedly putting pressure on him to vacate the abode for something smaller and less costly to maintain.

It was also reported last year that Charles had stopped the £1m annual allowance that Andrew used to receive from the late Queen, leading many to wonder how the disgraced Duke would manage the maintenance of such a large estate. His finances were also scrutinised in a Channel Five documentary – Prince Andrew: Where Did All the Money Go – which aired in January, sparking further queries about how and where Andrew receives his funding.

The Duke lives in the Royal Lodge in Windsor with his ex-wife, Sarah Ferguson ( 
Image:
Roland Hoskins/ANL/REX/Shutterstock)
Former BBC royal correspondent Jennie Bond spoke exclusively to OK! about Andrew residing in the Royal Lodge and suggested what needed to be done. She said: “I think Andrew should now either leave Royal Lodge or explain publicly where the money to maintain the terms of the lease is coming from. Assuming it’s all perfectly legitimate and accountable, there should be an end to the so-called ‘siege’.”

“I think, though, that the Duke has a pretty thick skin, and his response to most of the accusations is contempt for those who make them. Even at 65 and after all that’s happened to him, Andrew has remained stuck on his status, and it has to be said, his natural arrogance has not deserted him.

‘His natural arrogance has not deserted him’, said the royal expert ( 
Image:
Getty Images)
“There used to be an expression amongst the Lords Lieutenant around the UK who had to host visits by him…they would ask ‘Have you been Andrewed?’ They meant, had their colleagues had to host this rather pompous and self-important royal?”

Jennie concluded: “As for the future, there will be no return to royal duties or public appearances. But he has a growing and loving family and an immensely privileged lifestyle, so he really has no reason to feel sorry for himself.”