Prince Andrew Likely Denied £488k Payout After Leaving Royal Lodge, Crown Estate Says

The Crown Estate has told the UK Public Accounts Committee (PAC) that Prince Andrew — officially Andrew Mountbatten‑Windsor — is unlikely to receive a six‑figure compensation payment after his early departure from the 30‑room Royal Lodge on the Windsor estate. An initial inspection indicates that required end‑of‑tenancy repairs (dilapidations) will probably eliminate any entitlement to a payout.

In its briefing to MPs, the Crown Estate said the prince would be due £488,342.21 only if "no end‑of‑tenancy repairs or dilapidations are required." Once the cost of restoring the property to the required standard is taken into account, "in all likelihood" no compensation will be payable for the early surrender of the lease.

The Royal Lodge has been Andrew's home since 2003. Set within roughly 40 hectares (99 acres), the estate includes a swimming pool, an aviary, six lodge cottages, a gardener's cottage and accommodation for police officers providing royal security. The late Queen Elizabeth II granted him the right to occupy the property, which is owned by the Crown Estate; Andrew paid £1 million for the lease in 2003 and was responsible under a 75‑year lease (running to 15 June 2078) for refurbishment and upkeep.

King Charles ordered his brother to vacate the Windsor Great Park residence after announcing in October that Andrew would be stripped of the "prince" title amid controversy over his association with convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein. The prince is expected to relocate to accommodation on the privately owned Sandringham estate, with the move privately funded by King Charles and likely to take place after the Christmas holidays.

"Having reflected on what we have received, the information provided clearly forms the beginnings of a basis for an inquiry," said Geoffrey Clifton‑Brown MP, chair of the PAC, thanking the Crown Estate and the Treasury for their initial responses.

The PAC has opened an inquiry into the Crown Estate's lease arrangements with members of the royal family. The review will examine other arrangements such as Prince Edward’s lease of Bagshot Park and the Thatched House Lodge in Richmond, London. The committee said it will consider conclusions from the National Audit Office and expects to hold a formal inquiry in the new year based on the NAO’s findings and the evidence gathered.

The Crown Estate’s assessment means Andrew’s potential entitlement to a reported six‑figure sum hinges entirely on whether significant repairs are required at the end of his tenancy. If dilapidations are confirmed, he is likely to receive nothing for an early surrender of the lease.

Contributors: Lianne Kolirin, Lauren Said‑Moorhouse.