Prince Andrew hasn’t paid a penny in rent for the grand 30-room Royal Lodge in Windsor in over two decades, newly revealed lease documents have confirmed.
According to the tenancy agreement disclosed by the Crown Estate, the disgraced royal has effectively lived rent-free since 2003, paying only a symbolic “one peppercorn (if demanded)” per year—despite the vast, taxpayer-owned property stretching across 98 acres in Windsor Great Park.
“The Crown Estate confirms the lease, including the financial arrangement, had already been referenced in public documents, but the full lease was released to address growing scrutiny.”
This fresh revelation has reignited controversy over Andrew’s living arrangements, especially amid his ongoing scandals and the resurfacing of calls for him to vacate the property entirely.
Inside Prince Andrew’s 20-Year Rent-Free Royal Life
Back in 2003, Prince Andrew paid £1 million to secure a 75-year lease on Royal Lodge. In addition to this, he was obligated to spend a minimum of £7.5 million on property refurbishments, which were completed by 2005.
Since then? No rent. Just that single peppercorn, and even that only if demanded.
Under the terms of the agreement, Andrew and his family are entitled to occupy the residence until 2078.
The lease was obtained by The Independent following mounting public and political pressure to uncover the true nature of the royal’s occupancy.
Royal author and former Lib Dem minister Norman Baker voiced concerns about the terms of Andrew’s tenancy.
“All leases have some kind of break clause, so the public must know how he has been able to remain there, and on what terms he could be forced to leave,” he told The Times.
Fellow royal expert Andrew Lownie added: “I think it is important for transparency that the full details of that arrangement are made public and why the property in effect public property was only offered to him.”
Pressure Mounts Amid Epstein Fallout
This scrutiny comes as Prince Andrew remains engulfed in controversy surrounding his association with convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein.
The royal has relinquished his title of Duke of York, and fresh heat is expected with the posthumous release of Virginia Giuffre’s memoir, which includes more allegations against him.
Andrew continues to deny all accusations involving Giuffre. Calls are also emerging from some MPs for Parliament to consider stripping him of his remaining titles entirely.
A Deal Too Good to Dislodge?
Speaking to the BBC, former royal correspondent Jennie Bond explained the depth of Andrew’s legal claim to the estate.
“Should he be dislodged from Royal Lodge… he has a pretty cast-iron tenancy agreement and that is difficult. The King has been trying to get him out.”
She added: “Andrew likes us all to believe he has a tendency to be rather too honourable. Well, I do think the honourable thing might be to say, I will relinquish not only my titles… but I will also relinquish this rather large home. But I don’t see that happening.”
The Royal Lodge isn’t just any house. It’s a sprawling, historic estate that once belonged to the Queen Mother. Now, as the country faces cost-of-living struggles, and as public scrutiny of royal finances sharpens, questions are being raised about how long this arrangement can be justified.
The Crown Estate maintains that the release of the lease was appropriate and based on pre-existing public documentation, like the 2005 National Audit Office (NAO) report. It added that a “schedule of dilapidation” is the only unreleased detail, currently under review due to security considerations.
A £1m one-off payment. £7.5m in repairs. And then… rent-free royal living. With scandals swirling and reputations crumbling, can Andrew really hold on to Windsor’s Royal Lodge until 2078? Time and pressure will tell.
