Former Prince Andrew Criticized for Royal Lodge Subletting

Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor rented out three cottages at Royal Lodge without paying rent for his own residence, a British spending watchdog revealed.

Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor, the former prince, faced increased criticism after a report from the National Audit Office showed he sublet cottages on the estate where he lived rent-free. Andrew, King Charles III’s brother, stayed in Royal Lodge, a large 30-room home in Windsor, until February. He was forced out following new revelations about his connections with the convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein.

The report, released by a public spending watchdog on Friday, indicated Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor received rental income from the cottages on the property. It stated, “In the case of Royal Lodge, three cottages on the estate were sublet with income generated payable to Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor.” These properties have been vacant since April. The audit did not disclose the rent amounts charged for the sublets.

Andrew was required to pay only a nominal “peppercorn” rent, a traditional British legal practice allowing a symbolic fee to establish a lease. The audit office explained that this lease “is effectively zero pounds.” In 2003, Andrew paid 1 million pounds (around $1.35 million) for the lease and invested 7.5 million pounds in refurbishing the property in 2005.

According to the report, the lease for Royal Lodge included provisions permitting Andrew to sublet the property. Similar provisions exist for other royal property leases, allowing income generation with Crown Estate approval.