Calls continued last night for a select committee inquiry into the Crown Estate and for Prince Andrew to be called for evidence, as he is the “current occupant” of the Royal Lodge
These pictures reveal the exterior of the Royal Lodge is showing signs of wear and tear.
Prince Andrew has a “cast-iron” tenancy until August 2078, despite barely paying any rent on the property for the past 22 years. The Prime Minister said there should be “proper scrutiny” of Prince Andrew’s rent-free mansion in response to calls for a parliamentary inquiry.
The Royal Lodge lease makes the disgraced prince responsible for maintenance of the lavish property within Windsor Great Park and its annual running costs of around £250,000. However, photographs taken outside show crumbling paintwork, cracks and black mould appearing on the exterior walls of the gatehouse and main property.
Andrew has lived in the property, which is in Windsor Great Park, since 2003 when he bought the lease. His ex-wife, Sarah Ferguson, has continued to live there with Andrew for the past 29 years despite their divorce in 1996.
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Andrew, 65, had to pay £1million upfront and then spend £7.5millon on urgent renovations under the lease. It is believed, though, the eventual bill was nearly £10million.
By doing this, Andrew avoided a “nominal” annual rent on the property of £260,000 – and his family will have the mansion until 2078 unless he breaks the lease terms. An £8.5million initial outlay would be equivalent to £113,000 per year, if Andrew or his family remained there for 75 years, less than half the supposed current market rate.
The lease says Andrew must rectify any upkeep issues, and can be kicked out if he failed to carry out that maintenance after being given an opportunity to do so. Yet the images, published by the Daily Mail, suggests a lack of maintenance recently. The pictures mirror ones taken in the past few years, which we have published in this piece.
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Andrew must repaint the exterior once every five years with at least two coats in exactly the same colour – and paint the inside every seven years, reported the Telegraph. The Prince could also be made to leave for using the property for “any illegal or immoral purpose”, although there is currently no suggestion that this has ever happened.
It comes as a law which would allow the King to formally strip Prince Andrew of his dukedom is being introduced in the Commons on Wednesday.
The prince announced last week he would stop using his Duke of York title to avoid distracting from the work of the royal family, but an Act of Parliament would be required to formally remove the dukedom.
York Central MP Rachael Maskell has set out legislation which would grant Charles the power to remove titles. The proposed new law would give the monarch the power to remove titles on his own initiative, following a recommendation of a joint committee of Parliament, or at the request of the person who holds the title.
Ms Maskell said: “It is time for Parliament to act so that it can, or the monarch can, remove titles. The Duke of York title may no longer be being used by its holder, but it has not been removed. My short Bill, The Removal of Titles Bill, will fix this; I hope it can now be supported by Parliament.”
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‘ Some details of this article were extracted from the following source www.mirror.co.uk ’
