Prince Andrew Thread 3

[Roussette]

Here is the previous thread...

www.mumsnet.com/Talk/the_royal_family/4443261-Prince-Andrew-Thread-2?watched=1&msgid=114083283#114083283

In the Duke of Windsor's day there were still colonies he could be sent to govern (not that I'm convinced he actually did a 'proper job' in that capacity). Not so for Andrew. Where could the Queen send him? I actually think the Profumo route would be the only possible one. Earn some kind of redemption by doing charity work for the rest of his life. Though he probably wouldn't appreciate how lucky he would be to even be in that position.

I think his arrogance thought the carcrash interview was enough.... i.e. I've made my position clear and that draws a line under it, type of thought process.

Yes, @Roussette, I agree.

I was ranting at talking to DP about this again today, specifically about how Andrew acted in and around that interview like he was instructing staff to believe him, to take his word for it, do his bidding and shut the fuck up because I am the Duke.

It's as if the public, as subjects of his mother, are also his staff.

@Skiptheheartsandflowers

In the Duke of Windsor's day there were still colonies he could be sent to govern (not that I'm convinced he actually did a 'proper job' in that capacity). Not so for Andrew. Where could the Queen send him? I actually think the Profumo route would be the only possible one. Earn some kind of redemption by doing charity work for the rest of his life. Though he probably wouldn't appreciate how lucky he would be to even be in that position.

Er, in essence ‘charity work’ has been his occupation since leave the Navy, and look how that worked out....

He's 61

How would he actually get the work required for redemption? Because he'd have to actually do it. Real, long term persistent unsung effort.

I don't think he's got the time ahead of him for that route, nor is it easy to see what he would actually do.

I wonder which , if any , friends will stick by A ? He hasn't been found guilty yet , but any friends that do stay loyal to him will run the risk of being caught on camera with him and questions asked regarding their involvement in any dodgy goings on .

Yes, that's interesting. No one has come out in support of him in any way shape or form, have they?

Has fergie said anything since he's had his titles taken away?

Further to slimming down the monarchy, I took this to mean pruning some of the Royal palaces/castles/country homes as well as trimming the number of active royals funded by us. I know some of the properties appear to be privately owned but there must be some that could be done away with? The monarchy has more chance of surviving if it becomes more relatable - I'm one of the few on here that would be sorry to see them go but accept the whole set up is too bloated now and all those flunkeys and manservants need to be pared back.

Further to slimming down the monarchy, I took this to mean pruning some of the Royal palaces/castles/country homes as well as trimming the number of active royals funded by us

Considering how keen Charles is on spending other people's money I wouldn't want to assume that, especially as there seems no record of him actually saying anything about this himself and it's all other people claiming that's what he wants

If it happens at all, I've always wondered if it's not about keeping more of the goodies for himself, though it's true that with Harry gone and Andrew persona non grata there's been a certain "natural" slimming down already

He has talked about turning Buckingham Palace into a museum to create an income.

He has talked about turning Buckingham Palace into a museum to create an income

Yes, I believe that's so, although it begs the question "Income for who?"
It's also on record that he'd prefer to stay at Clarence House so it's not as if he'd be giving up something that attracted him personally, which seems to me the key in all this

As for where the Queen could send Andrew, I guess there's always the Commonwealth, though considering she had to twist their arms to give Charles the "Head" job, foisting Andrew on them as well might be a bit much

Can I ask a possibly stupid question? I presume that he can continue to live at Windsor, with servants and generally speaking, a very comfortable lifestyle?

He has a lease. There is no obvious way to get him to leave. I could see Andrew trading the Royal Lodge lease for separate leases for his daughters and the institution and their leaky courtiers leaving his daughters alone

He might be entitled to compensation, but why shouldn't the queen be able to terminate the lease and evict him if she chose?

@WinnieTheW0rm

He's 61

How would he actually get the work required for redemption? Because he'd have to actually do it. Real, long term persistent unsung effort.

I don't think he's got the time ahead of him for that route, nor is it easy to see what he would actually do.

I would suggest to him that he fill food boxes at a food bank. I suppose 'security' would be a factor to take into account.

@CarlatheJackal

He might be entitled to compensation, but why shouldn't the queen be able to terminate the lease and evict him if she chose?

Andrew has the property on a 75-year lease from the Crown Estate. The Queen isn't involved with the management or administration of the estate. The Crown Estate, as freeholder, can only terminate the lease if there is a forfeiture clause in the lease and Andrew is in breach of a condition of the lease. I don't know whether there is a forfeiture clause but, if there is, it will relate to the property, not Andrew's conduct. So no, neither the Queen nor the Crown Estate can terminate the lease and evict him.

So he pays the equivalent of 250 a week for very fancy accommodation.

@AllThePogs yes he does

Andrew will not give up the Royal Lodge without a good option for himself and his girls. Andrew has always fought for his daughters. Eugenie currently lives in the lodge I think along with fergie

Eugenie currently lives in the lodge I think along with fergie

She actually lives with her family in Frogmore Cottage, the one which was allocated to Harry and Meghan, but they're both on the Windsor estate so come under the same sort of funding arrangement

I must being getting confused. I am sure one daughter lived there at one point

Anyway the lease is valuable and Andrew will want something in return

The cottage Harry and Meghan paid to renovate.

They'll just assign the Royal Lodge lease to Fergie www.nao.org.uk/report/the-crown-estate-property-leases-with-the-royal-family/

@AllThePogs

So he pays the equivalent of 250 a week for very fancy accommodation.

No, he doesn't. I know Chris Evans MP pushed this figure, but it ignores the fact that the lease required Andrew to spend £7.5M (excluding VAT) on refurbishing the property. That on its own pushes the figure to over £2,000 a week. It also ignores the fact that Andrew paid the full £8.5M cost up front rather than paying monthly or annually. We therefore have to take into account loss of interest. In broad terms, he paid the equivalent of £5,000 a week.

No refurbishment doesn't count. We all have to refurbish if we pay for a lease,

@AllThePogs

No refurbishment doesn't count. We all have to refurbish if we pay for a lease,

Normally, if taking on a fresh lease for a property as opposed to buying it from the previous leaseholder, the property is expected to be in good condition and the leaseholder has to pay to maintain it. The lease will not specify that the leaseholder must pay a specific amount for refurbishing the property up front, as happened here. So yes, that payment very much does count. It is part of what he had to pay to get the right to live in the property. However, any money he has spent since 2004 (when renovation was complete) on maintaining the property definitely does not count.