Latest news with #SiegeofRoyalLodge
Daily Mirror
2 days ago
- Entertainment
- Daily Mirror
Meghan Markle's awkward Prince Andrew blunder that left Prince Harry perplexed
Meghan Markle had several memorable first meetings with members of the Royal Family when she first started dating Prince Harry - but her first encounter with Prince Andrew left her confused Meghan Markle made an awkward blunder after meeting Prince Andrew - with Prince Harry admitting she asked a perplexing question about him. In the early days of their romance, Harry had to introduce Meghan to all of his royal relatives, including the now King Charles, Prince William and his wife Kate. But Meghan's biggest meeting came when she was introduced to her now husband's late grandmother the Queen - but it seems the meeting left her confused. In the Channel 5 documentary, The Battle For Royal Lodge - Andrew vs Charles, experts recount the story that was revealed in Harry's controversial memoir. In it, Harry recalls Meghan's first meeting with his late grandmother, which came at his Uncle Andrew's home Royal Lodge that he shares with ex-wife Sarah Ferguson, who had to teach Meghan how to curtsy at the last minute. However at the end of the get together, Harry revealed that Meghan asked a telling question about his uncle, - and even thought he might not be a relative. Explaining how the Queen got up to leave after her chat with Meghan, Harry wrote: "My uncle Andrew, seated beside her, holding her handbag, began to escort her out. "After a moment Meg asked me something about the Queen's assistant. I asked who she was talking about." When she replied "the man who walked her to the door," the penny dropped for the prince who realised she had meant the Queen's second son. Andrew no longer takes part in public life following a car crash interview on BBC Newsnight about his connections to paedophile Jeffrey Epstein. He was also later stripped of his military affiliations and royal patronages with the approval of his mother, the late Queen. Andrew is now locked in a bitter dispute with his brother, King Charles, over him continuing to live at the 30 room mansion Royal Lodge in the shadow of Windsor Castle, despite major repairs being needed on the property. The King even offered Andrew, who was forced to step back from all royal duties, the chance to move into the four bedroom Frogmore Cottage, previously owned by Prince Harry and his wife Meghan that would be more manageable. But the disgraced Duke has insisted on staying put, claiming he will be able to pay the estimated £2million renovation fees desperately needed. Royal sources suggest the so-called 'Siege of Royal Lodge' has led to a drastic state of relations between the King and Andrew. Andrew has told close friends he is 'going nowhere' and told the King and the Crown Estate who own Royal Lodge, that he has a 'cast iron lease' that he signed for 75 years in 2002.
Daily Mirror
21-04-2025
- Daily Mirror
Prince Andrew takes up new hobby after threat of eviction from crumbling Royal Lodge home
The Duke of York is locked in a bitter dispute with King Charles over continuing to live at the 30-room mansion Royal Lodge in the shadow of Windsor Castle where major repairs are needed Prince Andrew has turned his hand to gardening, as he aims to spruce up his crumbling Royal Lodge home while under the threat of eviction. The Duke of York, who was pictured alongside the family on Easter Sunday, has been described as having 'a spring in his step', busying himself by pottering around the Windsor estate and even asking groundsmen for gardening tips. Andrew is locked in a bitter dispute with his brother, King Charles, over him continuing to live at the 30 room mansion Royal Lodge in the shadow of Windsor Castle, despite major repairs being needed on the property. The King even offered Andrew, who was forced to step back from all royal duties after his close relationship with a convicted paedophile was exposed, the chance to move into the four bedroom Frogmore Cottage, previously owned by Prince Harry and his wife Meghan that would be more manageable. But the disgraced Duke has insisted on staying put, claiming he will be able to pay the estimated £2million renovation fees desperately needed. Royal sources suggest the so-called 'Siege of Royal Lodge' has led to a drastic state of relations between the King and Andrew. However, after the death of the late Queen Elizabeth II, the King decided that his brother would be allowed to attend family events, such as Easter and Christmas gatherings. Andrew has told close friends he is 'going nowhere' and told the King and the Crown Estate who own Royal Lodge, that he has a 'cast iron lease' that he signed for 75 years in 2002. Work did start on the roof and crumbling facade of the property last year but has since ground to a halt. The Duke's finances have been shrouded in mystery after he was forced in February 2022 to pay £12million to Virgina Giuffre, a woman who accused him of sexually assaulting her on three occasions in 2001. Now sources say he is looking to project manage renovations himself and even taking on some of the landscaping in a bid to save money. One royal source said: 'The Duke has been walking round the estate a lot recently, speaking to staff and asking for tips on managing the grounds. 'The whole place has fallen into disrepair and needs a lot of attention. "He's been asking about different kinds of trees and shrubs and whether it would be possible to move or relocate certain trees. "He's certainly got a spring in his step and is a lot cheerier of late, which is surprising given everything he has going on.' After being outcast from royal life, Andrew, 65, spent months moping around in his house, watching TV in a dark room. He was forced to miss the royals' Christmas gathering at Sandringham in Norfolk after being dragged into a scandal involving an alleged Chinese spy who he went into business with and was later banned from entering Britain. But staff on the estate say he has been invigorated by being invited back into the family picture. Reports today suggested the disgraced Duke could be in line for a dramatic return to royal life, with the King keen that he is not outcast forever. But well placed sources have told The Mirror any chance of redemption 'will never happen'. The source added that Prince William 's central role in the monarchy would prevent his uncle from ever returning to the fold, believing Andrew to be 'utterly toxic' for the royal brand. Our source added: 'He's no Alan Titchmarsh but he's certainly showing a different kind of enthusiasm for finding ways to stay in his house.'
