Royal Couple Attends Prestigious Racing Event
The Duke and Duchess of Edinburgh braved the chilly weather on Saturday as they made a stylish appearance at the Coral Gold Cup at Newbury Racecourse. Prince Edward, 61, and his wife Sophie, 60, officially reopened the Royal Box at the Berkshire venue as the day's races commenced.
Sophie showcased elegant winter fashion in a full-length green tweed coat, complemented by tan boots and a wide-brimmed hat featuring a pink ribbon. The Duchess accessorised with a personalised purple leather pouch bearing her initial. Meanwhile, Edward opted for a classic look, wearing a grey double-breasted suit with brown brogues and a matching brown fedora. His choice of neckwear proved particularly fitting for the occasion - a green tie patterned with white horses.
Property Revelations Surface
As the royal couple attended the racing event, new details emerged about their living arrangements at Bagshot Park. The Duke of Edinburgh has been paying a peppercorn rent for the 51-acre Surrey mansion he has leased from the Crown Estate for 25 years. The property has been their family home since March 1998.
Prince Edward initially secured a five-decade lease for £50,000 annually, though this increased to £90,000 per year after he invested £1.36 million in renovations, with the Crown Estate contributing an additional £3 million for refurbishments.
In 2007, Edward's lease was extended under an agreement signed with his company, Eclipse Nominees Limited. He paid £5 million upfront for a 150-year lease, described as 'market tested' at the time, but now only pays a nominal peppercorn rent according to The Times.
Royal Property Arrangements Compared
The arrangement appears similar to that of Edward's brother, Prince Andrew, who paid £1 million in 2003 to secure a 75-year lease for the Windsor Royal Lodge. Andrew has since paid only 'one peppercorn' in rent per year, 'if demanded'. However, conditions on Andrew's lease limited inheritance to his wife, Sarah Ferguson, or their daughters, Princess Beatrice and Princess Eugenie.
Prince Andrew is currently in the process of being removed from the Grade II-listed Royal Lodge after being stripped of his royal titles last month due to his connections with the late convicted paedophile Jeffrey Epstein. The former prince, who has consistently denied allegations against him, is expected to relocate to a property on the Sandringham estate sometime in 2026.
Sources indicate that the practicalities of moving from the ten-bedroom Royal Lodge, where Andrew has lived for over 30 years, represent a substantial logistical challenge. The delay means Andrew won't be present when the Royal Family gathers in Norfolk for their annual Christmas celebrations, avoiding what could have been an 'awkward' situation given his current standing within the family.
Sandringham was selected as Andrew's new residence because, as the sovereign's personal estate, his living arrangements can be managed and funded completely privately.
The royal website has been updated to reflect Andrew's changed status, now listing him as 'Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor' in the line of succession, while his profile page has been completely removed from the official royal website.
