Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor’s Windsor estate has reportedly not been inspected by officials from the Crown Estate for over two decades. This revelation comes as the disgraced royal was spotted riding near Royal Lodge in Windsor, despite heavy rain.
Having resided in the 30-room Royal Lodge since 2003, Andrew had a unique lease agreement that exempted him from rent payments but required him to cover the costs of refurbishment and maintenance upfront. However, he has now surrendered the lease and is preparing to relocate. Initially, he paid £8 million for repairs when he first moved in, committing to allowing inspections at regular intervals during his 75-year lease.
Recent documents have disclosed that no Crown Estate officials conducted inspections at Royal Lodge for the majority of Andrew’s tenure, sparking concerns about a potential favorable arrangement at the taxpayers’ expense. According to the terms of his lease, he was obligated to repaint the interior every seven years and maintain the surrounding grounds without making structural modifications.
To ensure compliance, the lease granted Crown Estate officials the right to inspect the property with prior notice. Surprisingly, it was only through a freedom of information request that the lack of inspections was brought to light in December. The Crown Estate CEO previously informed the House of Commons Public Accounts Committee that inspections were conducted on an as-needed basis, citing best use of resources and public funds’ efficiency.
Royal expert Richard Fitzwilliams commented on the situation, pointing out the absence of inspections at Royal Lodge as another example of a potentially favorable deal between Andrew and the Crown Estate. Following Andrew’s decision to vacate the property, officials inspected it and found extensive deterioration requiring costly repairs. The reported £500,000 compensation Andrew received for ending the lease prematurely is likely to be absorbed by repair expenses.
As a result of King Charles’s decision, Andrew was compelled to leave Royal Lodge and was stripped of his royal titles due to ongoing controversies surrounding his association with convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein. Reports suggest that Andrew will be relocated to a private residence on the King’s Norfolk estate of Sandringham. The move was postponed during Christmas to avoid any uncomfortable encounters with the Royal Family, who were gathered at Sandringham for the holiday season.