Report: Former Prince Andrew earned income subletting cottages on rent-free estate
9 reported3 unconfirmed
A report by the U.K. National Audit Office released Friday shows that the former Prince Andrew made money by subletting three cottages on the Royal Lodge estate, where he lived rent-free for more than 20 years. The report also disclosed that his daughters, Princess Beatrice and Princess Eugenie, live in rent-controlled palace properties paid for by King Charles III. The amount of income Andrew received from subletting was not included in the report, an omission that Labour member of the House of Lords Margaret Hodge called “shocking.” The audit was conducted after Andrew was stripped of his royal titles and evicted from Royal Lodge by his brother following revelations about his friendship with the late convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein. Andrew moved earlier this year to the king’s Sandringham Estate. In February, the former prince, 66, was arrested and questioned by police about allegations of misconduct in public office; he has repeatedly denied wrongdoing and has not been charged.
What’s reported
The National Audit Office report says Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor received income from renting out three cottages on the Royal Lodge estate.
A 2003 lease for Royal Lodge shows he paid only a nominal “peppercorn rent” for the property, which included a 30-room mansion and eight cottages.
The amount of income from subletting was not included in the report.
Princess Beatrice and Princess Eugenie live in rent-controlled palace properties paid for by King Charles III.
The rents on their properties are set at 50% to 68% of open-market value and are paid from the Privy Purse.
Eleven working royals receive free housing within palaces in return for official duties, including the king, Queen Camilla, Prince William and Catherine, and Prince Edward and Sophie.
William and Kate pay 307,200 pounds (about $413,000) a year in rent for a family home near Windsor.
Andrew was arrested in February 2026 on allegations of misconduct in public office; he has not been charged.
British police are also looking into claims that Andrew sent confidential trade information to Jeffrey Epstein when he served as U.K. trade envoy from 2001 to 2011.
Open questions
How much money Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor earned from subletting the cottages.
The specific nature of the allegations of misconduct in public office that led to his arrest.
The cause of a large bruise on Andrew’s face, as photographed Thursday; The Times of London reported without citing sources that it was from a “nonserious medical condition.”
Key figures
Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor (former Prince Andrew)
King Charles III
Princess Beatrice
Princess Eugenie
Margaret Hodge (Labour member of the House of Lords, former head of Parliament’s Public Accounts Committee)
Norman Baker (former Liberal Democrat lawmaker)
Queen Camilla
Prince William
Catherine (wife of Prince William)
Prince Edward
Sophie (wife of Prince Edward)
Jeffrey Epstein (late convicted sex offender)
Sources: abcnews.com
