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In February, Mountbatten-Windsor left his residence at Royal Lodge amidst intense scrutiny regarding his associations with the convicted American sex offender Jeffrey Epstein. Throughout this period, he has consistently denied any involvement in wrongdoing connected to Epstein. Following his departure, the former Prince Andrew relocated to Sandringham, where his brother, the King, personally funded his living expenses and accommodation.
Later in February, Mountbatten-Windsor was arrested on allegations of misconduct in public office. However, a court decision issued on Thursday criticized the police for the manner in which their search warrants were obtained. Despite relocating to Sandringham, Mountbatten-Windsor retained the lease on Royal Lodge until October. As that lease has now officially ended, the Crown Estate has made public the conditions under which the lease was terminated.
In 2003, when Andrew initially took on the 75-year lease for Royal Lodge, he made significant upfront payments, including roughly £7.5 million dedicated to repairs. This arrangement exempted him from paying monthly rent. Additionally, the lease included a clause allowing for compensation if it was surrendered within the first 25 years, with the compensation amount decreasing annually. Had he vacated the lease in October 2026, he would have been entitled to a refund of approximately £302,000. However, this figure was eclipsed by the outstanding amounts Andrew owed for the condition of the property, leading the Crown Estate to receive a net sum of £1.5 million.
It is understood that the King covered this payment to prevent any financial loss to the Crown Estate. Whether Mountbatten-Windsor will reimburse his brother remains a confidential matter, and no details have been disclosed regarding Andrew’s personal financial situation. There has also been no official statement addressing the King’s views on this arrangement. It is reportedly unconnected to the King’s recent clarification that his financial support would not extend to covering Andrew’s legal fees in the ongoing legal dispute over the legitimacy of the search warrants.
Looking ahead, there is currently no decision on how the 30-room mansion at Windsor will be utilized. It is anticipated that the property will be leveraged to generate a commercial return, with no plans for another member of the royal family to reside there. According to a Crown Estate spokesperson, “The lease for Royal Lodge has ended and our focus now is firmly on its future use and the opportunities to generate additional financial value for the nation from its early return.”
Earlier this year, a report from the National Audit Office disclosed that Mountbatten-Windsor had been sub-letting portions of the Royal Lodge estate, though the rental income involved was not revealed. The same report also indicated that Andrew’s daughters, Princess Beatrice and Princess Eugenie, have been accommodated within royal palaces without paying rent, with their costs privately covered by the King
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