Andrew’s former royal home is going back on the market – but there’s a huge catch

Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor’s former home, the sprawling Royal
Lodge in Windsor Great Park, is set to go back up for lease – but
whoever takes on the 30-room mansion could face an annual upkeep
bill of around £400,000.

The property has stood empty since Andrew left in February after
revelations surrounding his friendship with the late convicted sex
offender Jeffrey Epstein. He subsequently moved to a more modest
property on the King’s Sandringham estate in Norfolk.

The Crown Estate is expected to take control of the lease from
October, when Andrew’s current agreement comes to an end. Any
prospective tenant will have to satisfy strict security
requirements and demonstrate that they can meet the substantial
costs of maintaining the property.

Royal Lodge is considerably more than a large country house. The
Windsor Great Park property includes several outhouses and a
swimming pool, while the Royal Chapel of All Saints is also located
on the grounds. Any new tenant would be required to allow members
of the Royal Family access to the chapel.

Despite its size and prestige, it appears that no other member
of the Royal Family wants to take on the lease, leaving the Crown
Estate free to seek a private tenant.

The property’s unusual financial history has already attracted
scrutiny. Andrew paid £1 million for his lease and was subsequently
required to pay just “one peppercorn” in annual rent, if demanded.
He also paid a further £7.5 million towards refurbishments
completed in 2005.

A National Audit Office investigation published in June also
revealed that Andrew had received an undisclosed private income
from subletting three cottages on the Royal Lodge estate for more
than two decades.

The precise amount he earned was not disclosed. However,
property buying agent Robin Edwards previously estimated that
comparable cottages within the Windsor estate could command rents
of between £2,500 and £5,000 a month each.

On that basis, three cottages could potentially have generated
between £90,000 and £180,000 a year in rental income, depending on
their size, condition and location.

The contrast between the former arrangement and the property’s
future could therefore be stark. A prospective tenant will inherit
responsibility for a mansion with an estimated £400,000 annual
maintenance bill, while the Crown Estate will now be able to seek a
commercial lease for one of the most unusual residences in
Windsor.