PRINCE Andrew’s diary was once filled with global travel and swanky events.
However, the disgraced Duke of York spends most of his time shut away at the “crumbling” Royal Lodge in Windsor, with his “loyal” daughters taking it in turns to check in on him.
Five years after his divisive Newsnight interview triggered the end to his public life, Prince Andrew now leans on “protective” Princess Beatrice, 36, and Princess Eugenie, 34.
A source tells HELLO!: “The girls take the grandchildren to visit him most weekends.
“They are spending far more time with him now than they have done in recent years.
“They are quite close to their father; they seem to be quite protective towards him.”
The Duke of York – who shares his £30million, 30-bedroom home with ex wife Sarah Ferguson – is said to have found solace in his grandkids.
He has been seen driving Sienna Mapelli-Mozzi – the three-year-old daughter of Beatrice and husband Edoardo Mapelli-Mozzi – around the Windsor Estate.
Andrew has also been helping his young granddaughter take the reins as she learns to ride horses, which is a popular hobby in the royal family.
Both Beatrice and Eugenie are also said to have invited friends over to the estate to go shooting in recent weeks.
When Prince Andrew isn’t spending time with his grandkids, he plays golf and horserides himself in the grounds of Windsor Castle.
He also spends time with former wife Sarah, Duchess of York, and they walk their five Norfolk Terriers, and two Corgis, who used to belong to the late Queen.
Prince Andrew stepped back from public life in 2019, following being linked to American financier and child sex offender Jeffrey Epstein.
Royal author Robert Hardman tells HELLO!’s Right Royal Podcast: “He’s got nothing else, he’s got no public life, he has no public role.
“He is clearly devoted to this home and he likes being there, so if he can make it work, he’s going to try.”
The 19th century listed Royal Lodge was where the late Queen Elizabeth spent part of her childhood and boasts 40 hectares of woodland and lawns, eight cottages, and lodgings for security personnel.
Charles, 75, is said to have wanted Andrew out of the house for years.
But Andrew, who moved into Royal Lodge in 2004 – has refused to move, after taking on a lease that lasts until 2078.
THE disgraced Duke of York resides at the £30million Royal Lodge in Windsor Great Park, Berkshire - at least for now.
King Charles has redoubled his efforts to evict the Duke – with insiders branding the stand-off the “siege of Royal Lodge“.
Despite his divorce from Sarah Ferguson in 1996, Prince Andrew lives with his ex-wife at the countryside estate.
Prince Andrew‘s royal residence, with its eye-catching white exterior, boasts 30 rooms with plenty of space for entertaining, plus seven bedrooms spread across the two topmost floors.
The Duke of York is said to spend all day “watching TV in a dark room” like a prisoner at his “crumbling” home.
Royal Lodge is said to “need extensive repairs”, thought to be about £400,000 a year.
The monarch is said to be becoming increasingly frustrated at Andrew’s refusal to care for the colossal mansion.
Andrew is said to have promised King Charles he would take care of its expensive repairs – despite having no apparent source of income.
His Majesty urged him to follow the late Queen’s plan and move out of the 30-bed mansion and into nearby Frogmore Cottage, the former home of Prince Harry and Meghan.
This month, we revealed how Prince Andrew – who does not work but has links to oligarchs – has lost his annual £3million-a-year hand-out from brother Charles which funded guards at Windsor’s Royal Lodge.
But Andrew has now convinced Palace authorities he has sufficient funds to support himself, including security costing £3million annually and repairing the 19th century Grade II listed property at around £400,000 a year.
His plan is believed to be bankrolled by Middle East money.
