Officials from the Crown Estate failed to carry out a single routine inspection on the Duke of York's Windsor home for more than two decades, it has been revealed. This extraordinary lapse occurred while the disgraced royal lived essentially rent-free at the 30-room Royal Lodge.
The Terms of a Unique Royal Lease
Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor moved into the Windsor mansion in 2003 under a highly unusual 75-year lease agreement. The deal required no regular rent payments. Instead, the former prince reportedly paid a substantial £8 million upfront to refurbish the then-dilapidated property.
The lease mandated strict upkeep rules. Andrew was required to repaint the interior every seven years and maintain the landscaped grounds. He was also forbidden from making alterations like adding new walls or windows to the historic building.
Critically, the contract granted Crown Estate officials the right to enter the premises at 'all reasonable times' to ensure compliance, provided they gave 'reasonable notice'.
Two Decades of Missed Inspections
Despite this contractual right, newly released documents show that not one inspection was performed in over 22 years. This information came to light only after a Freedom of Information request by the Daily Mail in December 2025.
The lack of oversight stands in stark contrast to a briefing given by the Crown Estate's chief executive to the House of Commons Public Accounts Committee in November. He stated inspections were done 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.
Royal commentator Richard Fitzwilliams labelled the situation an 'extraordinary absence of inspections' and a clear example of a 'sweetheart deal' between the Crown Estate and Andrew.
Consequences and the Final Eviction
The oversight was finally addressed after King Charles decided to evict his brother from the Royal Lodge. This move followed the stripping of Andrew's royal titles, a consequence of the ongoing scandal surrounding his association with convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein.
Once Andrew announced his departure, officials finally inspected the property. They found it in a crumbling and dilapidated state, requiring significant repairs.
The cost of these necessary works is likely to completely consume the £500,000 'compensation' payment Andrew was due for quitting his lease early. Reports indicate he is now awaiting a move to a private residence on the King's Sandringham estate in Norfolk, a transition paused over Christmas to avoid awkward family encounters.
