Disgraced Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor only accepted his eviction from Royal Lodge after “holding out for all sorts of requirements,” royal historian Andrew Lownie has claimed.

Speaking on the latest delay that grants the former Duke one final Christmas in the 30-room mansion, Mr Lownie said Andrew had been resisting the Sandringham relocation until his demands were met.

The biographer stressed that the Norfolk property is unlikely to be a permanent solution, warning it “could be a temporary stop on a far more dramatic path.”

Mr Lownie predicted Andrew may ultimately flee Britain altogether for the Middle East, where he could live under the radar and retain royal treatment.

He told RadarOnline the shamed royal expects to “continue to have staff” and is not moving to anything resembling a modest home. With the move now pushed into early 2026, Mr Lownie’s remarks underline growing frustration over the protracted haggling on the public purse.