Sawt Falasteen - 'Not out of the woods': What now for Britain's ex-prince Andrew?

- Where will he live? -

Buckingham Palace announced on Thursday that Andrew, 65, will leave his 30-room mansion in the sprawling Windsor Castle estate, following revelations that he had effectively paid no rent on the Royal Lodge as a result of a 2003 lease deal.

He will move to a house on the king's private -- and remote -- Sandringham estate in eastern England.

"He's been sent up... to the royal equivalent of Siberia," royal biographer Robert Hardman told the BBC.

Andrew should have plenty of lodging options at that royal country retreat, which reportedly has 150 residential properties.

Palace sources said the move would take place as soon as practicable.

But commentators have said it could take months, including possibly to avoid an awkward encounter when the royal family gathers in Sandringham for Christmas celebrations -- to which Andrew is not invited.

- With what money? -

It is understood that the king will privately fund the relocation and make a private provision for his brother.

Beyond a modest naval pension and significant financial assets, the sources of Andrew's income remain unclear, particularly since he stepped back from royal duties following revelations of his ties to convicted US sex offender Jeffrey Epstein.

Andrew no longer receives the yearly £250,000 ($315,000) awarded to active members of the royal family, and Charles reportedly stopped paying him an annual £1 million allowance in 2024.

The Guardian newspaper reported on Sunday that Andrew could receive a one-off, six-figure payment as well as an annual stipend as part of his relocation plan.

- Could he face legal woes? -

Calls have grown for Andrew to be investigated over allegations that he sexually assaulted Virginia Giuffre, Epstein's main accuser, including having sex with her twice when she was just 17, all of which Andrew denies.

He agreed to pay Giuffre millions of dollars in 2022 to end her civil sexual assault case against him, and has never been questioned under oath.

Some members of a US Congressional Committee investigating the Epstein case have urged Andrew to travel to the United States and testify.

Giuffre's brother Sky Roberts said Andrew "needs to be behind bars".

London's Metropolitan police have previously probed Giuffre's claims but said in 2021 that they were taking no further action.

"I think there's now renewed vigour for them to look at this properly," Andrew Lownie, the former prince's biographer, told AFP.

Anti-monarchy campaign group Republic said it has hired lawyers to look into pursuing a private prosecution.

The Met are also probing claims in Giuffre's posthumous memoir that Andrew asked an officer to dig up dirt for a smear campaign against her.

"He's not out of the woods yet. I mean, he's got some worries," said Lownie, adding that new court documents could be unsealed in the US and result in further embarrassment.

- Still in the line of succession? -

Although Andrew was Friday struck off the official roll of peerage, a key step in formalising the removal of his titles, he remains eighth in line to the throne.

The UK government has said it has no plans to take legislative action to change that, which would be a lengthy and complicated process.

According to a parliamentary briefing, altering the line of succession would require the assent of all the Commonwealth nations where the king is head of state.

Independent lawmaker Rachael Maskell, who has proposed a bill to formally remove Andrew's titles by law, said parliament should take the time to make the change.

- What next for the royals? -

The revelations in the lead-up to Thursday's announcement prompted calls for greater scrutiny of the secretive finances of the royal family, dubbed The Firm.

According to Lownie, a parliamentary committee should look into Andrew's controversies, including during his time as a UK special trade envoy, as well as the "wider issues of royal secretiveness".

"This is an opportunity for the Royal Family to be a bit more transparent about the way they behave, particularly over their finances," said Lownie.

The parliamentary Public Accounts Committee said it had written to the Crown Estate and the Treasury to explain how Andrew's "peppercorn payment" lease for the Royal Lodge came about.

But Lownie thinks Thursday's move could be enough to quell public anger against the royal family, which has been weakened by the long-drawn out downfall of the former prince.

"Andrew has been basically booted out. He's now distanced from them," said Lownie. "There is every chance that trust and respect can be restored."

X.Habash--SF-PST