Prince Andrew’s Windsor mansion, Royal Lodge, has reportedly not been inspected by Crown Estate officials for over two decades. This revelation surfaced as the disgraced royal was spotted riding near his residence in Windsor amid heavy rain.
Residing in the 30-room Royal Lodge since 2003, Prince Andrew had a unique lease agreement exempting him from rent but requiring substantial upfront renovation costs and maintenance commitments. Despite an £8 million investment to restore the property upon moving in, recent documents indicate a lack of inspections throughout his occupancy, raising suspicions of a favorable arrangement at the taxpayers’ expense.
Under the terms of his lease, Prince Andrew was obligated to periodically repaint the interior, maintain the landscaped grounds, and preserve the historic structure without alterations. The lease also granted Crown Estate officials the right to conduct inspections with prior notice to ensure compliance.
The absence of inspections came to light through a freedom of information request, contradicting previous assertions that inspections were conducted as needed. This raised concerns about the responsible use of public funds and the potential lenient treatment of the former prince.
Following his announcement of vacating Royal Lodge, subsequent inspections by Crown Estate officials revealed the property’s deteriorated condition, necessitating extensive repairs that may exceed the £500,000 compensation offered to Prince Andrew for early lease termination.
Subsequently removed from Royal Lodge by King Charles and stripped of his royal titles due to ongoing controversies linked to Jeffrey Epstein, Prince Andrew is expected to relocate to a private residence within the King’s Norfolk estate of Sandringham, with the transition temporarily delayed during the Christmas period to avoid family encounters.
Royal expert Richard Fitzwilliams expressed astonishment at the lack of inspections, highlighting it as another instance of preferential treatment between the Crown Estate and Prince Andrew. The delayed scrutiny of the property’s condition amid the royal’s turbulent public image further underscored the scrutiny surrounding the situation.