Fresh documents have exposed that the Crown Estate failed to carry out a single routine inspection on the Duke of York's Windsor home for more than two decades, despite a lease granting them the right to do so.
The Terms of a Unique Royal Lease
Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor moved into the 30-room Royal Lodge on the Windsor estate in 2003 under a highly unusual agreement. Rather than paying rent, the disgraced royal reportedly paid an upfront sum of £8 million to refurbish the then-dilapidated property. In return, he secured a 75-year lease.
The lease stipulated strict upkeep rules, including repainting the interior every seven years and maintaining the landscaped grounds. It explicitly forbade alterations like adding new walls or windows. Crucially, the document granted Crown Estate officials the right to enter the premises at "all reasonable times" upon giving notice, to ensure compliance.
Two Decades Without a Single Check
Despite this contractual right, not one inspection was performed in the 22 years Andrew primarily resided there. This extraordinary lapse was only revealed through a Freedom of Information request by the Daily Mail in December 2025.
The revelation directly contradicts a briefing given by the Crown Estate's chief executive to the House of Commons Public Accounts Committee in November 2025. He stated inspections were conducted on a "need-only" basis, which he claimed was common industry practice to respect the tenant's privacy and ensure effective use of public money.
Fallout and a Costly Eviction
The lack of oversight has sparked severe criticism, with royal experts labelling it a clear "sweetheart deal." Richard Fitzwilliams noted the oversight was "all the more surprising" given Andrew's high-profile scandals in recent years.
The situation came to a head following King Charles's decision to evict his brother from Royal Lodge, a move that followed Andrew being stripped of his royal titles over his association with convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein.
Only after Andrew agreed to vacate did officials finally inspect the property. They found it in a dilapidated state, requiring significant repairs. The £500,000 compensation Andrew is due for quitting the lease early is likely to be entirely consumed by these repair costs.
It is reported that Andrew will now be moved to a private residence on the King's Sandringham estate in Norfolk, with the relocation delayed over Christmas to avoid awkward family encounters.
