LONDON (AP) — According to a report released by the U.K. public spending watchdog, the former Prince Andrew has profited from subletting three cottages on the estate where he spent over 20 years living rent-free. The report highlights the financial arrangements related to royal properties and was conducted by the National Audit Office at the request of lawmakers.
The findings revealed that Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor derived income from the rental of cottages on the Royal Lodge estate, his residence near Windsor Castle for more than two decades. A lease agreement dated 2003 indicates that he paid merely a nominal charge known as "peppercorn rent" for Royal Lodge, which encompasses an extensive 30-room mansion and eight cottages, of which he was permitted to sublet three.
Though the report provided details about the royal family's housing arrangements, it did not disclose the exact amount of income Andrew received from subletting the cottages. This omission raised concerns among some lawmakers, including Margaret Hodge, a Labour member of the House of Lords and former head of Parliament’s Public Accounts Committee, who expressed dismay over the lack of financial transparency.
The audit's review was initiated following the scandal surrounding Mountbatten-Windsor, who was stripped of his royal titles and evicted from Royal Lodge by his brother, King Charles III, due to revelations about his association with the late convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein. Earlier this year, Mountbatten-Windsor transitioned to reside at the king’s Sandringham Estate in eastern England.
Additionally, the audit report indicated that several working royals receive free housing within various palaces as part of their official duties. This group includes King Charles III, Queen Camilla, Prince William, Catherine (the Duchess of Cambridge), and Prince Edward along with his wife, Sophie. The report noted that William and Kate also maintain a family home near Windsor, for which they pay an annual rent of £307,200 (approximately $413,000).
As for Princess Beatrice and Princess Eugenie, they occupy rent-controlled properties at Kensington Palace and St. James’s Palace, respectively. Their rents are set at a portion of the open-market value, ranging between 50% and 68% in recent years, with payments made from the Privy Purse, which consists of the monarch’s private funds. This arrangement has drawn criticism, as both princesses do not carry out official public duties and hold outside jobs.
Buckingham Palace commented that the audit office report aligns with the royal household's commitment to transparency. The palace expressed hope that the findings would help clarify various aspects regarding royal properties. However, critics of the monarchy argue that the report illustrates a disregard for taxpayers, noting the remarkable benefit of Andrew’s peppercorn rent while profiting from subletting properties.
Additionally, Andrew’s connections to Jeffrey Epstein have come under scrutiny. Documents released by the U.S. Department of Justice showed that he was involved with Epstein, who exploited a network of powerful allies to exert influence and abuse young women. British police are investigating allegations suggesting that Mountbatten-Windsor may have provided confidential trade information to Epstein during his tenure as U.K. trade envoy from 2001 to 2011, with ongoing inquiries potentially expanding to include claims of sexual misconduct.
Mountbatten-Windsor has maintained a low profile since relocating to the Sandringham Estate, located about 100 miles (160 kilometers) north of London. Recent photographs captured him in a vehicle with a noticeable bruise on his face, which, according to reports from The Times of London, was attributed to a “nonserious medical condition.”
