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NAO Finds Prince Andrew Sublets Royal Cottages for Peppercorn Rent

6/6/2026

Summary

Mountbatten-Windsor Sublets

NAO report found Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor sublet three Royal Lodge cottages while paying only peppercorn rent.
His 2003 lease demanded a £1 million premium and £7.5 million renovations, leaving the cottages empty by April 2026.
Crown Estate earned £3.6 million ($6.8 million) in rental income from non-official royal properties last year, while King Charles III and the Prince and Princess of Wales also pay adjusted rents.

Summary

Mountbatten-Windsor Probe

The Public Accounts Committee opened an inquiry into Crown Estate deals after the National Audit Office (NAO) report highlighted the pepper-corn lease at Royal Lodge.
Norman Baker said the findings prove the royal family does not pay its way and called arrangement contempt for taxpayers.
Detectives are probing Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor for trade leaks during his 2001-2011 tenure as UK trade envoy and may expand probe to alleged Epstein-linked sexual misconduct.

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Mountbatten-Windsor Sublets

NAO report found Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor sublet three Royal Lodge cottages while paying only peppercorn rent.
His 2003 lease demanded a £1 million premium and £7.5 million renovations, leaving the cottages empty by April 2026.
Crown Estate earned £3.6 million ($6.8 million) in rental income from non-official royal properties last year, while King Charles III and the Prince and Princess of Wales also pay adjusted rents.

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