Prince William is reportedly planning to tighten rules on royal residences, including banning subletting and reassessing rent-free or heavily discounted housing for non-working royals. An NAO report highlighted that Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor sublet cottages despite paying a peppercorn rent, and that Princesses Beatrice and Eugenie occupy palaces at rates well below market. William and the Princess of Wales pay £307,500 a year for Forest Lodge, whose lease forbids subletting. Buckingham Palace said the NAO report supports transparency and notes arrangements vary by property and purpose.
Prince William Plans Tighter Rules for Royal Residences — Bans Subletting and Reconsiders Rent-Free Perks
King Charles with his son, Prince William (Getty Images)
Prince William, 43, is reported to be preparing a tighter set of rules governing the use of royal residences when he succeeds to the throne. Insiders say the Prince of Wales wants to 'do things differently' and is considering measures such as banning subletting on royal estates and ending rent-free accommodation for non-working members of the royal family.
Prince William will 'do things differently' when he inherits the throne (Anadolu via Getty Images)
According to The Sunday Times and a recent National Audit Office (NAO) report, Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor sublet three cottages on the grounds of his former Windsor residence, Royal Lodge, despite paying only a peppercorn rent himself. That finding has intensified scrutiny of how official properties are let and managed.
The Prince of Wales intends to stop non-working royals from living rent-free in palaces (Andrew Parsons / Kensington Pala)
The NAO also noted that Princess Beatrice and Princess Eugenie live in palaces at rates charged well below market levels. Their accommodation at St James’s Palace and Kensington Palace has been covered from the King’s private funds and set at around 40% below market value, even though both work and have spouses with established careers. Sources told reporters that, under King Charles’s reign, the rents for those homes have been raised to about 68% and 64% of market value respectively.
The King will continue to annually review the living and rental arrangements of members of the royal family at royal residences (WireImage)
William has already disclosed the terms of his Forest Lodge lease in Windsor, confirming that he and the Princess of Wales plan to remain there when they are King and Queen. The couple pay £307,500 a year for the 18th-century mansion — reportedly about £100,000 more than the previous tenants. The lease also contains a clause forbidding the subletting of three cottages on the property’s grounds.
Insiders say the prince is 'mindful of how much the monarchy costs' and intends to be hands-on in restructuring household arrangements to reduce public and private expense. The reforms being discussed are said to include clearer rules on who may live in official residences, how rents are set, and annual reviews of housing allocations for family members.
Buckingham Palace welcomed the NAO report, saying it aligns with the royal household's commitment to transparency and noting that arrangements for properties vary depending on location, tenant and purpose.
HELLO! has contacted Kensington Palace for comment. The proposals — if adopted when William accedes — would tighten controls across the royal estate and address public concerns about subsidised housing and the subletting of official properties.
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