UK Watchdog Report Reveals Former Prince Andrew Earned Income from Royal Estate Properties

LONDON: A report released Friday by the United Kingdom’s National Audit Office has revealed that Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor, formerly known as Prince Andrew, generated income by subletting cottages on the Royal Lodge estate, where he had lived for two decades under a nominal rent arrangement.

According to the findings, Mountbatten-Windsor occupied Royal Lodge near Windsor Castle under a 2003 lease agreement that required only a “peppercorn rent,” a symbolic payment for a 30-room mansion and eight accompanying cottages. Three of those cottages were reportedly sublet, allowing him to earn undisclosed rental income over the years.

The audit report, commissioned at the request of lawmakers following his removal from royal duties and eviction from Royal Lodge by King Charles III, did not specify the amount earned from the subletting arrangements. The omission drew criticism from senior parliamentarians, including Labour peer Margaret Hodge, who described the lack of financial detail as “shocking.”

The report also highlighted broader financial arrangements within the royal household, noting that 11 working members of the royal family receive publicly funded housing in exchange for official duties. These include King Charles III, Queen Camilla, Prince William and Catherine, Princess of Wales, and Prince Edward and his wife Sophie.

Prince William and Princess Catherine reportedly pay market rent for their family residence near Windsor, amounting to approximately £307,200 annually. Meanwhile, Princess Beatrice and Princess Eugenie reside in royal properties in Kensington Palace and St. James’s Palace under subsidized arrangements funded through the Privy Purse.

Buckingham Palace stated that the report aligns with ongoing efforts to increase transparency regarding royal finances.

However, critics argued that the findings highlight unfair advantages within the royal housing system. Former Liberal Democrat lawmaker Norman Baker said the arrangements demonstrate “contempt for the taxpayer,” citing both the low-cost occupancy of Royal Lodge and the potential profits from subletting.

The report comes amid continued public scrutiny of Mountbatten-Windsor’s past associations with convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein. He was previously questioned by police in February over allegations of misconduct in public office, which he denies. Authorities are also examining claims related to his conduct during his tenure as UK trade envoy between 2001 and 2011, including alleged misuse of confidential trade information.

Mountbatten-Windsor, who has largely withdrawn from public life and relocated to the Sandringham Estate, was recently photographed with a visible facial bruise. British media reported the injury was linked to a non-serious medical condition.

The National Audit Office report has renewed debate in the United Kingdom over royal finances, transparency, and the extent of public support for non-working members of the royal family.