A report into the royal family’s property arrangements has been published today, and it has put the spotlight on former Prince Andrew and his two daughters. The UK’s National Audit Office released the findings of its investigation into royal residences, which was sparked by questions last year about Andrew’s lease of Royal Lodge.
The report revealed that Princess Beatrice and Princess Eugenie have the rent paid for their Palace properties by the King. It also showed that Andrew received income by sub-letting three cottages to staff during his lease of Royal Lodge from the Crown Estate. He recently terminated the lease early and left the property following the scandal over his links to Jeffrey Epstein.
Beatrice has an apartment in St James’s Palace, and Eugenie has Kensington Palace home Ivy Cottage. When working royals live in official royal residences they do not pay rent in lieu of carrying out royal duties. However, as non working royals, Beatrice and Eugenie are charged.
“The Household’s policy is to charge an adjusted rent of typically 60% of the open market value,” the National Audit Office said today, adding that the rents are “currently paid by the Privy Purse.” The Privy Purse is the King’s personal money, most of which comes from the Duchy of Lancaster.
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Queen Elizabeth with her granddaughters and Charles in 2010.
The arrangement for the Sovereign to pay Beatrice and Eugenie’s rents was set up in the reign of Queen Elizabeth. But many may find it baffling that it continues today when the Princesses are in their 30s, married and also have other homes, with Beatrice and her husband also residing in a property in the Cotswolds and Eugenie’s family living in Portugal.
The report also showed that non-working royals Prince and Princess Michael of Kent also have their rent in Kensington Palace paid by the King.
There is no suggestion of any wrongdoing in today’s report. The terms of Andrew’s lease permitted him to sub-let. It has not been shared how much rent he received.
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The Wales family’s new home.
The National Audit Office examined two types of property arrangements; official royal residences and Crown Estate properties. Working royals do not pay rent on official residences, but they do on Crown Estate properties. As such, William and Kate are paying around £300,000 per year rent on their new home Forest Lodge. The report showed that the Crown Estate spent £400,000 on external repairs before they moved in.
Buckingham Palace said in a statement today that they were grateful for the report, which they said was “in line with the Royal Household’s commitment to transparency.”
Town & Country Contributing Editor Victoria Murphy has reported on the British Royal Family since 2010. She has interviewed Prince Harry and has travelled the world covering several royal tours. She is a frequent contributor to Good Morning America. Victoria authored Town & Country book The Queen: A Life in Pictures, released in 2021.