King Charles is secretly assisting Prince Andrew in planning a departure from the United Kingdom to shield him from potential extradition pressures, according to royal commentator Ingrid Seward.
The editor of Majesty magazine claims the King has continued providing financial support to his disgraced brother despite officially stripping him of royal allowances. Seward describes this as a quiet olive branch, suggesting Charles is balancing public distancing from Andrew with private family loyalty.
The claims emerge as Andrew remains mired in reputational damage following his association with convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein, allegations he continues to deny.
Financial Support Continues Despite Public Separation
The long-running dispute over Royal Lodge, Andrew's residence on the Windsor estate, has defined the brothers' fractured relationship. Charles reportedly ordered Andrew to vacate the property in October 2025, simultaneously removing his princely title and requiring him to use the surname Mountbatten-Windsor.
However, Seward suggests Charles has quietly ensured Andrew is not left destitute. Express reported that Andrew's willingness to make concessions over Royal Lodge prompted a softening from the King, portraying Charles as strict but ultimately compassionate toward his sibling.
Andrew holds a lease that may allow him to remain at Royal Lodge until late 2026, prompting parliamentary questions about how the Crown Estate has managed the arrangement and whether compensation might be offered to expedite his departure.
Extradition Concerns Fuel Relocation Speculation
The suggestion that Andrew might leave Britain has intensified amid speculation about potential legal action from American authorities. While no official extradition request has been announced, observers note that relocating abroad could insulate Andrew from future legal complications.
The Conversation has analysed Charles's decisive actions against Andrew, including the withdrawal of titles and allowances, as essential measures to protect the monarchy's credibility. Yet Seward's claims highlight the tension between the King's public duty and private family bonds.
No destination for Andrew's potential relocation has been publicly identified, and Buckingham Palace has not commented on the claims.
Stripped of Final Honours
Andrew's fall from grace reached its nadir in December 2025 when he was formally stripped of his remaining royal honours. The Order of the Garter and the Royal Victorian Order were revoked, and his heraldic banners were removed from St George's Chapel at Windsor Castle.
The symbolic erasure marked a complete severance from the monarchy's ceremonial life, leaving Andrew without any formal royal standing for the first time in his adult life.
The King Walks a Strategic Tightrope
The King's approach reflects a calculated balancing act. By maintaining private financial support while publicly distancing the Crown from Andrew's scandals, Charles attempts to preserve institutional credibility without entirely abandoning his brother.
Critics argue that facilitating Andrew's departure from the UK could be perceived as helping him evade accountability. Public opinion remains divided, with some viewing Charles's actions as compassionate family loyalty and others seeing preferential treatment that ordinary citizens would never receive.
The monarchy's reputation, already strained by the Andrew affair, risks further damage if the public concludes the royal family operates above the consequences that apply to everyone else.
For Charles, the Andrew problem remains unresolved. Every decision carries the weight of protecting both family and Crown, two priorities that may ultimately prove irreconcilable.
