Prince Andrew's Royal Lodge standoff with King Charles ends in an unexpected victory

Prince Andrew is reportedly celebrating behind palace gates, but not because of a return to royal favour or a sudden PR win.

After months of tension and years of private power plays, the embattled Duke of York has reportedly managed to hold his ground in a bitter standoff over his royal residence.

According to the New York Post, the disgraced royal has been “all smiles” since receiving word that King Charles has quietly backed away from a plan that once threatened to upend Prince Andrew’s royal living arrangements for good.

The mood is a far cry from the subdued outings earlier this year, when Prince Andrew appeared weighed down by the looming threat of eviction from his 30-room estate. The standoff had reached its tipping point — until a lease agreement tipped the scales in his favour.

As the outlet reports, Prince Andrew presented his brother with documentation showing he is legally entitled to stay in the property, effectively ending the push to evict him.

“Charles tried his best to get his non-working royal sibling to move to smaller premises elsewhere to free up the royal home,” the outlet reported.

The property, Royal Lodge on the grounds of Windsor Castle, had become the source of years of family friction — and a potential landing spot for the Prince and Princess of Wales and their children.

But the showdown appeared all but decided when, in late 2024, King Charles abruptly pulled the plug on Prince Andrew’s multi-million-dollar allowance and $4 million a year security detail.

With no official royal duties and no financial backing, Prince Andrew’s exit seemed inevitable.

Then came the twist: a mystery financial backer emerged in November, footing the bill and buying Prince Andrew more time. The move raised fresh questions, including from within the UK Government, about the source of his funding. So far, no answers.

The King responded by quietly removing priceless furnishings from the estate, citing concerns over maintenance and security.

Still, the lease held.

Royal Lodge has been Prince Andrew’s home since 2004. He continues to live there with his ex-wife, Sarah Ferguson.

Prince William and Princess Kate, meanwhile, have resumed their search for a family home.

After reportedly deciding the Lodge wasn’t quite right, they are now preparing to move on from Adelaide Cottage — leaving Prince Andrew, for now, without challengers to the throne he’s clung to most tightly.