Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor's controversial "peppercorn rent" deal for Royal Lodge has triggered a Parliamentary inquiry that could expose how little other royals pay for sprawling Crown Estate properties. The House of Commons Public Accounts Committee is launching an investigation following public outrage over the financial arrangements for royal residences.
The former prince paid £8.5 million upfront for renovations of the 30-room Windsor mansion in 2003, then paid minimal rent under a 75-year lease. His departure from Royal Lodge has now "opened the door to a lot of problems for his family and the way they live," according to royal biographer Ingrid Seward.
Andrew is unlikely to receive a £488,342 financial settlement for surrendering his lease early. The Crown Estate told parliamentarians that dilapidation costs will offset any compensation owed. «Our initial assessment is that while the extent of end of tenancy dilapidations and repairs required are not out of keeping with a tenancy of this duration, they will mean in all likelihood that Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor will not be owed any compensation for early surrender of the lease once dilapidations are taken into account,» The Crown Estate stated.
Other royals face scrutiny
Prince Edward and Princess Sophie occupy the 120-room Bagshot Park estate under similarly favorable terms. They initially paid £5,000 annually (£417 per month) under a 50-year lease from 1998. After paying £1.36 million toward renovations, they secured a 150-year lease in 2007 for £5 million upfront, resulting in peppercorn rent.
Princess Alexandra, the late Queen Elizabeth's 88-year-old cousin, pays just £225 monthly for Thatched House Lodge, a Grade II listed property with six bedrooms and six reception rooms in Richmond Park.
In contrast, Prince William and Princess Catherine reportedly pay market-value rent of upwards of £15,000 monthly for Forest Lodge. The Crown Estate confirmed they hold «a 20-year non-assignable lease with The Crown Estate for Forest Lodge, commencing 5 July 2025» at «open market rent».
Calls for transparency
Royal expert Jennie Bond told the Mirror that while the family may not welcome the review, reform is overdue. «Although I don't think the family will be jumping with joy at the prospect of a comprehensive rent review, I think they will accept that it's high time that the monarchy's finances were more transparent,» she said.
Bond emphasized that royals paying peppercorn rents will need to "stump up" proper amounts. «None of them can possibly pretend to be impoverished. By normal standards, they are all extraordinarily wealthy and perfectly able to pay a market rent — or move to somewhere smaller if they don't want to. I don't think they should expect, or receive, any public sympathy about this,» she added.
Seward told The Times the scandal has shifted public awareness. «The Crown Estate contains a huge number of properties but most of us haven't been aware of what exactly is out there, and until now, few of us have cared to ask,» she said. «Now, that has changed, which means Andrew has opened the door to a lot of problems for his family and the way they live.»
First appearance since title loss
Andrew is set to make his first public appearance since being stripped of his royal titles, attending the christening of his granddaughter Athena at St James's Palace. Princess Beatrice invited her father despite concerns about his presence, reportedly worried about his mental health and recognizing "he dotes on his grandchildren."
King Charles was invited to the christening but is not expected to attend. The 65-year-old Andrew lost his HRH style, prince title, and dukedom at the end of October following the posthumous publication of Virginia Giuffre's memoir and documents from Jeffrey Epstein's estate.
Note: This article was created with Artificial Intelligence (AI).
