Prince Andrew’s Windsor cottages rented at peppercorn price, NAO finds
An NAO report into the Royal Household’s properties says Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor sublet three cottages on the Royal Lodge estate in Windsor and paid a peppercorn rent for a 75-year lease; the inquiry could not establish how much income he earned from subletting, though he paid £1 million upfront in 2003 and £7.5 million for renovations that reduced that upfront cost. Mountbatten-Windsor has moved out amid renewed scrutiny tied to Epstein documents and police investigations into misconduct in public office. The report also notes Beatrice and Eugenie’s rents are paid by King Charles, that the Royal Lodge estate hosts eight cottages and 145 other properties rented to staff, generating about £3.6 million in income last year, and that greater transparency from the Royal Household is welcome.
