Why Doesn’t Prince Andrew Pay Lease at Windsor Property Royal Lodge?

Prince Andrew faces an uneasy future inside the royal household following his choice to surrender his official titles.

In October 2025, Prince Andrew introduced that he would “now not use my title or the honors which have been conferred upon” him attributable to his connection to late disgraced financier and convicted intercourse offender Jeffrey Epstein.” The prince has continued to “vigorously deny” any wrongdoing, although he did attain a non-public settlement with late Epstein accuser Virginia Giuffre in 2022 after she sued him for sexual assault. (Epstein and Giuffre each died by suicide, in 2019 and 2025, respectively.)

One main query about Prince Andrew's future is whether or not he'll proceed residing at Royal Lodge, a house owned by the Crown Property on the Windsor Dwelling Park property and leased to him since 2003.

There was important outrage within the U.Okay. over Prince Andrew and the Crown Property's “peppercorn hire” settlement for the property, which basically allowed him to stay on the property with out paying important hire for 22 years.

Hold scrolling for the total clarification of Prince Andrew's residence at Royal Lodge.

Why Doesn't Prince Andrew Pay Conventional Lease at Royal Lodge?

Prince Andrew doesn't independently personal Windsor Fort — the property is a part of a group of actual property bought by the royal household, generally known as the Crown Property. The Crown Property manages all royal residences for the advantage of the U.Okay. taxpayer.

In 2003, Prince Andrew signed a 75-year lease for Royal Lodge, which is situated about three miles south of Windsor Fort. (King Charles III makes use of Windsor Fort to host official state capabilities, whereas Prince William and Kate Middleton lived close by at Adelaide Cottage earlier than shifting to Forest Lodge in Windsor Nice Park in 2025.)

London's The Times reported that Prince Andrew and the Crown Property made a “peppercorn hire” settlement on the time, the place he would pay £1 million for the lease, plus fund any essential renovation charges. Prince Andrew reportedly contributed £7.5 million for refurbishments that had been accomplished in 2005, plus he paid a further $2.5 million for a hire buyout.

As per the authorized necessities of his lease, Prince Andrew has not been required to pay conventional annual hire for his Windsor property, which features a six-bedroom cottage, a Chapel Lodge, a gardener's cottage and safety lodging.

Prince Andrew as an alternative agreed to fund ongoing renovations that could be required to maintain Royal Lodge in good situation. BBC News reported in October 2025 that he would adjust to royal inspectors' appraisal of the property each 5 years, as a part of a “paint, paper, polish, adorn” clause in his lease.

What's ‘Peppercorn Lease'?

In accordance with the U.K. government, “peppercorn hire” is a time period that means “a hire that was of nominal or low worth.” Primarily, the time period signifies a recurring cost that's extra symbolic than helpful to fulfill the phrases of a contract.

New revisions in 2022 outlined “peppercorn hire” for the primary time as “an annual hire of 1 peppercorn,” which basically restricts this sort of hire to just about “zero monetary worth.” Below these new guidelines, landlords are below no obligation to “levy a peppercorn hire” except they select to take action.

Associated: Buckingham Palace Will Have New Prince Andrew Allegations Absolutely Investigated

Buckingham Palace could have the brand new allegations made in opposition to Prince Andrew absolutely investigated following the relinquishment of his royal titles. After a number of shops reported on Sunday, October 19, that Andrew, 65, is being investigated for allegedly asking his taxpayer-funded safety element to uncover details about late accuser Virginia Giuffre in 2011, simply hours earlier than the […]

In Prince Andrew's case, the deal he signed for the property in 2003 implies that he will pay a nominal payment per 12 months — maybe £1 or nothing in any respect — as a result of he paid upfront prices for renovation. The Instances reported in October 2025 that Prince Andrew had not paid important hire on the property following completion of refurbishment in 2005.

Will Prince Andrew Be Pressured to Transfer Out of Royal Lodge?

It's unlikely Prince Andrew might be pressured by the Crown Property to maneuver out of Royal Lodge. BBC Information clarified in October 2025 that Andrew has an independently-held “cast-iron lease” on the property.

As a result of Prince Andrew paid all the upfront charges related along with his lease, he has the best to proceed residing there with a “peppercorn hire” settlement at the very least via 2078 — or, basically, for the remainder of his life.

Prince Andrew might presumably be persuaded to surrender the property to keep away from any extra adverse publicity for the royal household, although that may be a call solely he had the authority to make since he honored the phrases of his authentic lease.

The Instances reported that, if Andrew was persuaded to surrender his Royal Lodge lease, the Crown Property can be required to pay him £558,000, plus a “compensatory sum” of £185,865 every year via 2028.

Christopher Andersen, royal skilled and creator of Brothers and Wives, completely informed Us Weekly in October 2025 that maintaining the tenancy of Royal Lodge was a technique for Prince Andrew to manage his future within the face of mounting scandal.

“Regularly, for the reason that Queen's demise, it has dawned on Andrew that he would possibly actually be booted out of the royal fold altogether,” Andersen defined. “His titles, his privilege, his standing all mattered to him.

The royal skilled went on, “That has all been peeled away over the previous few years and now he's simply hanging on by his fingertips. What issues most to Prince Andrew today are all of the perks — with the ability to maintain on to Royal Lodge, his palatial residence on the grounds of Windsor, sustaining a non-public employees and a comfortable life-style.”

Which Different Royals Have Lived at Royal Lodge?

The trendy Royal Lodge was rebuilt over a 10-year interval between 1830 and 1840, after serving because the residence of artist Thomas Sandby and, later, court docket official Joseph Frost within the 18th century. By the mid-1800s, the Crown Property took over possession of the property.

In trendy occasions, King George V finally granted residence to the Duke of York (a.ok.a. the long run King George VI) within the Nineteen Thirties. The Queen Mom turned the first tenant within the lead-up to her daughter Queen Elizabeth II's coronation in 1953.

By the point of The Queen Mom's demise in March 2002, the property was considerably rundown and in want of main renovation. For this reason a “peppercorn hire” settlement with Prince Andrew was so enticing for the Crown Property, as he'd conform to pay for upfront prices to refurbish the property, fairly than the Property counting on taxpayer funds.

Quite a few notable occasions have taken place at Royal Lodge since Prince Andrew signed his 75-year lease, together with Princess Eugenie's reception following her nuptials with Jack Brooksbank in 2018 in addition to Princess Beatrice's 2020 marriage ceremony to Edoardo Mapelli Mozzi on the Royal Chapel of All Saints.