Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor has moved to relinquish the lease on
a second royal property, further simplifying his residential
arrangements following the upheaval that has surrounded his housing
in recent years.
The former Duke of York has asked to terminate his tenancy of
East Lodge, a Grade II-listed thatched cottage located near
Sunninghill Park, about five miles from Windsor Castle. Documents seen by the BBC indicate that the annual
rent on the property had risen to just under £13,000.
The cottage, believed to have been used primarily for staff
accommodation, forms part of the portfolio managed by the Crown
Estate, an independent commercial body responsible for managing
public royal assets on behalf of the Treasury. The estate is
required to secure value for money for taxpayers rather than
serving as a private royal landlord.
Andrew originally took on the lease in 1998, paying around
£3,500 a year, with the rent rising over time in line with
inflation and later reviews. The most recent adjustment last year
increased the charge to approximately £12,922 annually.
The tenancy was due to continue until 2027, but the former royal
has now requested early termination. The Crown Estate has indicated
that the decision followed a Freedom of Information request
submitted by the BBC, after which the request to end the lease was
formally made.
The move comes weeks after Andrew vacated Royal Lodge, Windsor,
where he had lived for nearly two decades under a controversial
rental arrangement sometimes described in media reporting as
“peppercorn rent”. His departure followed the stripping of his
remaining public titles amid scrutiny over his association with
convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein, allegations which Andrew
has consistently denied wrongdoing in relation to.
Since leaving Windsor, he has relocated to Sandringham Estate,
where he is staying at Wood Farm while renovation work continues on
Marsh Farm, a home understood to be part of longer-term private
accommodation arrangements.
The Crown Estate emphasises that the day-to-day occupancy of
properties such as East Lodge is treated as a private matter,
separate from the commercial lease itself. Previous records suggest
the cottage may have housed employees associated with Andrew’s
household rather than serving as his primary residence.
Andrew first acquired the East Lodge tenancy in February 1998
when it formed part of arrangements linked to the former royal’s
earlier residence at Sunninghill Park, which had been sold in 2007
amid controversy after being purchased by a foreign buyer for
several million pounds above the asking price.
The early termination of the lease adds another step to the
restructuring of Andrew’s living and financial arrangements during
a period of sustained public and political pressure surrounding his
past links to Epstein and continuing scrutiny of royal property
usage.
The former prince was approached for comment.
‘ The preceding article may include information circulated by third parties ’
‘ Some details of this article were extracted from the following source royalcentral.co.uk ’
