Keir Starmer supports calls for parliamentary inquiry into Prince Andrew’s Royal Lodge lease deal

British Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer has backed calls for Prince Andrew to be called in front of MPs to answer questions about his Royal Lodge living arrangements.

It was revealed this week Prince Andrew had not paid rent on the 30-room mansion on the Windsor Estate in more than two decades, and was instead required only to pay a nominal annual rental fee, known as a “peppercorn” rent.

That prompted the leader of the Liberal Democrats, Sir Ed Davey to ask Sir Keir if he would support a parliamentary inquiry into the Crown estate, which manages Royal Lodge, “to ensure taxpayer interests are protected”.

“Will the prime minister support a select committee inquiry, so all those involved can be called for evidence, including the current occupant?” Sir Ed asked in Prime Minister’s Questions on Wednesday, local time.

Mr Davey added that he hoped the House of Commons could look at the issue properly and all those involved summoned to respond to questions by MPs.

The Guardian newspaper reported that members of the public accounts committee, which scrutinises public spending, were “pushing hard” on Wednesday for support to establish a probe.

It would be highly unusual for a member of the royal family to be called to give evidence in front of MPs, but it is understood there is nothing stopping the request from being made.

However, British parliamentary rules could complicate a committee’s work.

Questions that “cast reflections on the sovereign or the royal family” are generally not allowed to be asked and are ruled inadmissible.

Prince Andrew has faced significant pressure over his lease, his links to the late convicted sex offender, Jeffrey Epstein and his connections to China.

It intensified this week when a memoir penned by his late accuser Virginia Giuffre, was released.  

The late Ms Giuffre wrote in her book that she had sex with Prince Andrew on three separate occasions. 

He has always strenuously denied her allegations.

Prince Andrew paid Ms Giuffre an undisclosed sum to settle a lawsuit in 2022.

Ms Giuffre died by suicide in April this year in Western Australia.

Late last week, Prince Andrew announced he was dropping his royal titles and honours after speaking with King Charles and his family.

‘Mired in secrecy’

The Royal Lodge scandal has prompted a wave of criticism from MPs across the political divide, with some claiming it remained unclear how much taxpayer money Prince Andrew had benefited from.

Former Labour government minister Baroness Margaret Hodge told the BBC Radio 4’s Today program that the UK Treasury was supposed to audit these funds.

“Royal finances are mired in secrecy and that lack of transparency associated with those finances ends up with us asking all sorts of questions,” Baroness Hodge said.

“If there has been a sweetheart deal with Prince Andrew, there is less money going to the taxpayer, but we don’t know. There’s no transparency. So inevitably, we’re sceptical and we ask questions.”

The Liberal Democrats have called on Prince Andrew to pay back “every penny of rent that he’s not paid while disgracing his office”.

Conservative MP, Robert Jenrick, called on Tuesday for the prince to be removed from Royal Lodge and “leave public life forever”.

The ongoing scandal threatens to cloud King Charles and Queen Camilla’s visit to the Vatican to meet Pope Leo.

“The visit will mark a significant moment in relations between the Catholic Church and the Church of England,” Buckingham Palace said in a statement.

“It’ll be the first state visit since the Reformation, where the Pope and the Monarch will pray together in an ecumenical service.”