King privately funded Andrew’s Royal Lodge repair and restoration costs

LocalPolitics
9 Oct 2026 • 9:38 PM MYT
The Independent
The Independent

The world’s most free-thinking newspaper

King privately funded Andrew’s Royal Lodge repair and restoration costs

The King has privately made funds available for Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor’s repair and restoration costs on the Royal Lodge.

The Press Association understands Charles made the money available to his brother through his private income to ensure the Crown Estate was reimbursed.

On Friday, it was announced that Andrew’s lease on the Royal Lodge had been officially surrendered – with the Crown Estate receiving £1.5 million after £302,000 compensation he was entitled to was deducted from the £1.8 million in dilapidation costs.

PA understands the funds made available by the King will cover the £1.5 million payment.

Andrew was entitled to compensation because, as per the terms of his lease on the Windsor mansion, he surrendered it within the first 25 years.

A spokesperson for the Crown Estate, which oversees the royal family’s land and property holdings and generates money for the Treasury, said: “The lease for Royal Lodge has ended and our focus now is firmly on its future use and the opportunities to generate additional financial value for the nation from its early return.”

A compensation clause was added into the terms of the lease because of Andrew’s 2005 payment of £7.5 million for refurbishment at the 30-room property, the spokesperson added.

It is understood the money made available is not for Andrew’s use on judicial review proceedings against Thames Valley Police, who accepted on Thursday that their searches of two of the former prince’s properties were unlawful.

A Buckingham Palace source previously confirmed he had been told not to use money from the annual stipend provided from the King’s private funds to finance the legal action.

Andrew could face months in limbo as he remains in a legal battle over whether evidence obtained during searches at the Royal Lodge and his residence on the Sandringham Estate can be used in the force’s investigation into alleged misconduct in public office.

The former Duke of York moved out of the Royal Lodge in Windsor earlier this year as files related to paedophile financier Jeffrey Epstein were released by the US Department of Justice.

Police officers at Royal Lodge, the former home of Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor, earlier this year (Jonathan Brady/PA) (PA Archive)

He was forced to move into Marsh Farm on the King’s Sandringham estate in Norfolk, amid public outcry about the rent he paid on the Royal Lodge.

In June, a National Audit Office investigation revealed that the late Queen’s second son received an undisclosed private income from subletting three cottages on the Royal Lodge estate while paying a peppercorn rent for more than two decades.

The Crown Estate spokesperson said the property will now be marketed by two nationally recognised agents for its proposed future use.

Newswav Malaysia Best News App

Newswav is an online content aggregator and obtains its content from different online sources. The content in the app do not belong to Newswav nor do they reflect the opinions of Newswav and its staff. Your use of this app indicates your understanding and acceptance of this information.

Newswav Sdn. Bhd. (201701008480 (1222645-M)) 2026 All Rights Reserved