Downcast Andrew spotted on soggy horse ride as ‘crumbling’ Royal Lodge bombshell emerges

Disgraced Andew Mountbatten-Windsor has been spotted out riding near his Royal Lodge home today after it was revealed that Crown Estate officials did not perform routine inspections on the crumbling property

Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor’s crumbling Windsor mansion was not inspected by Crown Estate officials in 22 years, it has been reported. The bombshell comes as the disgraced royal was seen out riding in Windsor close to Royal Lodge, where he was soaked in the pouring rain.

The former prince has lived in the 30-room Royal Lodge since 2003, with the unique term of his lease including no rent payments but a costly upfront refurbishment and upkeep schedule. He has, however, since been forced to give up the lease and is awaiting his move to a new home. When he moved in more than two decades ago, the former prince reportedly paid £8million to repair the then-dilapidated property, and promised to allow inspectors in at ‘all reasonable times’ to make sure he looked after the royal residence throughout his 75-year lease.

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However, new documents have revealed that not one Crown Estate official carried out an inspection of Royal Lodge in the majority of the time Andrew lived there, raising concerns of a ‘sweetheart deal’ at taxpayers’ expense.

His unique royal lease stated that he should have painted the interior of the property every seven years and maintain the landscaped grounds and gardens. The rules were so strict that he was also not allowed to alter the historic building by adding new walls, fences, gates or windows.

To ensure he complied with the terms, the lease stated Crown Estate officials had the right to enter the premises to determine if the rules had been followed if they gave ‘reasonable notice’ to visit the royal home.

The lack of inspections was only revealed via a freedom of information request from the Daily Mail in December. This is despite the chief executive of the Crown Estate issuing a briefing to the House of Commons Public Accounts Committee (PAC) in November where he stated inspections were carried out on a ‘need-only’ basis.

It stated that this was ‘common industry practice’ because the former prince had the right to the quiet use and privacy of the property. It further explained inspections are carried out only when needed to ensure best use of resources and, in the case of The Crown Estate, ‘effective use of public money’.

Royal expert Richard Fitzwilliams said of the revelations: “There is little doubt that the extraordinary absence of inspections of Royal Lodge, which under the terms of the lease could be periodically carried out, will be seen as yet another example of the sweetheart deal between the Crown Estate and Andrew.

“This revelation is all the more surprising when you consider the fact that Andrew has been involved in so many high-profile disasters in recent years, and still no one thought to inspect the condition of the property until recently.”

After Andrew announced he would be vacating the Royal Lodge, Crown Estate officials inspected the property and found it in a dilapidated state needing repairs. It is in such poor condition that Andrew’s £500,000 ‘compensation’ for quitting the lease early is likely to be completely wiped out by the cost of repairs.

The former prince was booted from the Royal Lodge after a decision by King Charles, who also stripped him of his royal titles over the continued revelations about his connection to convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein.

It has been reported that Andrew will be moved into a private residence on the King’s Norfolk estate of Sandringham. The move was put on pause over Christmas to avoid any awkward run-ins with the Royal Family, who spent the festive season together at Sandringham.