Prince Andrew is reportedly in advanced negotiations with senior aides of King Charles to leave his Royal Lodge home, following increased scrutiny over his 'peppercorn' rent tenancy. The 30-room mansion in Windsor Great Park has been a focal point of controversy amid the prince's links to convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein and the posthumous publication of memoirs by his accuser Virginia Giuffre.
The public accounts committee has confirmed it will write to the Crown Estate and the Treasury after it emerged that Andrew paid £1 million for the lease in 2003 and was required to fund £7.5 million in refurbishments. Since then, he has paid only a 'peppercorn' rent if demanded annually. Buckingham Palace is reportedly increasing pressure on the prince to vacate voluntarily, as his lease with the Crown Estate is effectively ironclad, preventing eviction.
According to reports, discussions over his living arrangements have been held daily since the revelations. While Andrew initially resisted, insisting he could stay until the lease expires in 2078, negotiations continue with a growing sense he will eventually move out. Royal sources described a 'renewed determination' to force him out.
Downing Street stated on Thursday that MPs would not be given time to discuss Andrew's situation, as the royal family prefers Parliament to focus on 'important issues'. King Charles has reportedly tried to persuade his brother for some time to relocate. Should Andrew be forced out, he would be entitled to £558,000 under the lease terms.
The question of where Andrew and his ex-wife Sarah Ferguson, who also resides at Royal Lodge, would go remains unclear. It is unknown how Andrew would pay rent, as his income sources are not public, and the King is understood to have withdrawn financial support last year. The royal family sought to move on from the Epstein controversy when Andrew relinquished his titles and honours last week, though calls for their full removal via legislation persist.
