The National Audit Office has released a report scrutinizing the property arrangements of the British royal family. The report reveals that former Prince Andrew profited by subletting three cottages on the Royal Lodge estate, where he resided without rent for over two decades. This estate is near Windsor Castle and includes a 30-room mansion. Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor’s lease, signed in 2003, required only a symbolic payment known as a ‘peppercorn rent’ for the property, which included eight cottages.
While the audit did not specify the income received from renting out these cottages, Margaret Hodge, a Labour member of the House of Lords, criticized the lack of financial transparency. She expressed concern over the National Audit Office’s inability to determine Andrew’s earnings from the sublet properties.
The audit was instigated by lawmakers after Andrew lost his royal titles and was evicted from the Royal Lodge by his brother, King Charles III. This eviction followed controversies surrounding Andrew’s connections with the late Jeffrey Epstein, a convicted sex offender. Currently, Andrew resides on the king’s Sandringham Estate in Eastern England.
In February, Andrew faced arrest and police questioning over misconduct allegations in public office. He has consistently denied the accusations and has not been charged.
Royal Housing Arrangements
The audit reveals that 11 working royals receive free housing within palaces as part of their official duties. This includes the king, Queen Camilla, Prince William, his wife Catherine, as well as Prince Edward and his wife Sophie. William and Kate have a family home near Windsor, for which they pay a substantial rent of £307,200 annually.
Princesses Eugenie and Beatrice, not considered working royals, live in rent-controlled palace properties. The rents for their residences, paid from the Privy Purse, reflect a fraction of the open-market value, varying between 50% and 68%.
Buckingham Palace stated that the audit aligns with the royal household’s commitment to transparency and aims to address misconceptions about royal property arrangements. However, critics view these arrangements as further evidence of a lack of financial accountability within the monarchy.
Norman Baker, former Liberal Democrat lawmaker and a critic of royal financial practices, commented, “It shows a total contempt for the taxpayer, allowing Andrew to have a peppercorn rent for a vast property and potentially profit from subletting.”
Andrew’s Ties with Epstein
Documents released by the U.S. Department of Justice in January detail Andrew’s association with Epstein, showcasing how Epstein leveraged relationships with wealthy and influential individuals. British police are examining allegations that Andrew may have passed confidential trade information to Epstein during his tenure as UK trade envoy (2001-2011). The police may expand their investigation to include sexual misconduct claims and have invited witnesses to provide information.
Since relocating to the Sandringham Estate, Andrew has remained largely out of the public eye. Recently, he appeared with a noticeable bruise on his face, which The Times of London reported as stemming from a minor medical condition, though no details were cited.
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