After her mother died in 2002, the late Queen Elizabeth II ensured that Royal Lodge didn't remain a "grace and favour" residence.

Todd Longstaffe Gowan, the Historic Royal Palaces gardener, told the UK's DailyMail that the disgraced Duke of York's Royal Lodge home is "impossible" to maintain at its current state.

Although Tengbo denied claims he was a spy, with the prince having insisted he had ceased all contact with him once suspicions were first raised, their once close friendship turned heads, with the duke, 64, pulling out of last year’s Royal Family Christmas plans at Sandringham as a result.

King Charles is said to be at loggerheads with his younger brother over the future of Royal Lodge, with the monarch wanting the Duke of York to move to Frogmore Cottage