In London, news has emerged that Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor, the former Prince and Duke of York, will not seek a six-figure payout for his earlier eviction from Royal Lodge in the Windsor estate because of the state of its repairs, the Crown Estate reports.
In a report by the UK Parliament’s Public Accounts Committee (Public Accounts Committee, PAC) on the effectiveness of government program spending, the Crown Estate said that the preliminary assessment of Royal Lodge likely indicates the absence of mandatory compensation for the early termination of the lease, taking wear and tear into account.
It is likely that Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor will not be entitled to compensation for the early termination of the lease… taking wear and tear into account.
– Crown Estate
Although the Crown Estate does not believe that any compensation is mandatory, Andrew could receive a six-figure sum of £488,342.21 (approximately $644,336) if the final repairs or signs of wear are not required.
King Charles III has instructed his brother to vacate the property in Windsor Great Park near London, which he announced in October, explaining that Andrew is being stripped of the title “Prince” due to the controversy surrounding his friendship with the convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein.
The property, where Andrew has lived since 2003, sits on 40 hectares (99 acres). The estate features a swimming pool, an aviary, six lodges, a gardener’s cottage, and accommodations for the royal guards who protect the members of the royal family.
The late Queen Elizabeth II granted Andrew the right to reside in this lodge, which officially belongs to the Crown Estate. The prince paid £1 million for the property in 2003, and under the terms of a 75-year lease due to expire on 15 June 2078, he was obliged to fund repairs and maintenance of the surrounding grounds.
Andrew will move to a residence at the Sandringham Estate, about 160 kilometres north of London, privately owned by the monarchy. The new home will be funded by King Charles, but the move is expected after the Christmas holidays, according to a royal source.
The news surfaced as the PAC announced the launch of an inquiry into the Crown Estate lease deal.
Having reflected on what we have received, the information provided clearly forms the beginnings of a basis for an inquiry.
– Geoffrey Clifton-Brown, a member of the PAC
We now await the conclusions the NAO will draw from this information, and plan to hold an inquiry based on the resulting evidence base in the new year.
– Geoffrey Clifton-Brown, a member of the PAC
The investigation will also examine Crown Estate lease agreements with the Royal Family, including Prince Edward’s lease of Bagshot Park near Windsor and Thatched House Lodge in Richmond (London), where Princess Alexandra and her family live.
Materials on this topic were previously reported by CNN journalists Lianna Kolirin and Lauren Said-Mourhaus.