Princesses Beatrice and Eugenie have suffered a significant setback regarding their living arrangements after a Daily Express poll indicated that the majority of readers believe they should be evicted from their royal accommodations. A recent investigation uncovered that King Charles has been covering the costs for the sisters' residence in royal properties, even though they are non-working royals.
National Audit Office Report Reveals Rent-Free Living
The National Audit Office has released a report on the Royal Family's residential property arrangements, following controversy surrounding the disgraced Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor's lease of a Crown Estate property. The probe found that the princesses have been living rent-free in Kensington Palace and St James's Palace, despite holding jobs outside their royal duties. Additionally, for several years, their adjusted rents—reduced due to security clearance requirements for Royal Household properties—were based on outdated open-market valuations.
Public Backlash and Poll Results
The findings have sparked outrage, with former Liberal Democrat minister Norman Baker, a longtime critic of royal finances, describing the arrangements as “outrageous.” In the Daily Express poll, 10,385 readers participated, with 6,782 (65%) voting that Beatrice and Eugenie should be evicted from their royal homes. Only 3,208 readers (31%) opposed eviction, while 395 (4%) were undecided. One reader commented, “They are married to rich men, if they want a London address let them buy it themselves.”
Andrew's Subletting Income Also Under Fire
The report also revealed that Andrew received an undisclosed private income from subletting three cottages on his Royal Lodge estate, while paying a nominal rent for over two decades. Baker stated, “The whole thing is outrageous. If you look at Andrew, this is adding insult to injury. It shows an absolute total contempt for the taxpayer, not only that Andrew was able to have a peppercorn rent for a gigantic property, but then to make potentially millions on the side from subletting properties. The money should have gone to the Crown Estate, not into his pockets.”
Non-Working Royals Should Not Be Subsidised
Baker added of Beatrice and Eugenie: “There’s no way that non-working members of the Royal Family should be subsidised by the Duchy of Lancaster. The Royal Family is yet again taking the public for a complete ride.”
