Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor was receiving up to £2,000 per month from sub-letting three cottages at his former home, Royal Lodge, without paying any rent himself, according to a Public Accounts Committee report. The committee, which examined leases on royal properties as part of a wider inquiry into Crown Estate management, recommends that future leases should ban sub-letting unless specifically agreed with the landlord.
The sub-letting income went to Mountbatten-Windsor rather than the Crown Estate, which owns the property. The committee said he did not always rent out the properties, so the total income over more than 20 years remains unclear.
Mountbatten-Windsor took on a 75-year lease for Royal Lodge in 2003 and paid about £7.5 million towards its renovation and other charges, meaning he did not have to pay rent. He left the property in February in the wake of revelations about his connections to US sex offender Jeffrey Epstein. He has consistently denied any wrongdoing in relation to Epstein.
The committee also confirmed that after his departure, about £300,000 was due to him for early surrender of his lease, but a £1.8 million repair bill for the building's condition meant the Crown Estate was owed £1.5 million. King Charles paid this sum on his brother's behalf.
Beyond the sub-letting issue, the report raised concerns about the rent charged to non-working royals given accommodation in three royal properties. The group was believed to include Princess Beatrice and Princess Eugenie, who do not pay for their accommodation, with the King covering their rent from his private income. MPs were concerned about whether rents were based on up-to-date valuations and recommended a more consistent approach to ensure value for money.
The committee criticised the Crown Estate for concentrating too much of its urban property portfolio in London and the south east of England and called for a greater regional spread. It also warned that administration costs had increased by 129% since 2020-21. The report said chief executive Dan Labbad's salary had risen by 106% over that time; his pay package was worth £2.3 million in 2025-26.
In response, a Crown Estate spokeswoman said: "The Public Accounts Committee report is an important part of our accountability to Parliament. We are considering its findings and recommendations and will respond to the Committee in due course."
Analysis
Why This Matters
- The report reveals potential misuse of Crown Estate assets by a senior royal, raising questions about accountability for taxpayer-funded properties.
- It highlights gaps in oversight of royal leases, with the Crown Estate having no control over sub-letting terms or charges.
- Recommendations could lead to stricter lease rules, ensuring better value for money for the public.
Background
The Public Accounts Committee conducted the inquiry as part of a wider investigation into the Crown Estate, an independent property company that pays its profits to the Treasury. Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor had lived at Royal Lodge in Windsor since 2003, but left in February 2026 after controversy over his association with Jeffrey Epstein, which he has consistently denied.
Key Perspectives
Public Accounts Committee: Found that Andrew received up to £2,000 a month from sub-letting without oversight and recommended banning sub-letting unless explicitly agreed.
Crown Estate: Said it is considering the committee's findings and will respond in due course.
Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor: Has denied any wrongdoing in relation to Epstein and was approached for comment regarding the sub-letting report.
What to Watch
- The Crown Estate's formal response to the committee's recommendations.
- Potential changes to lease terms for royal properties, particularly for non-working royals.
- Further scrutiny of the Crown Estate's regional investment and administration costs.
Checked
12 claims in this story checked against 1 source: 11 supported.
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- SupportedAndrew received up to £2,000 per month from sub-letting.BBC News: “Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor was receiving up to £2,000 per month for sub-letting three cottages at his former home at Royal Lodge”
- Partly supportedThe committee recommends prohibiting sub-letting in Crown Estate leases.BBC News: “MPs on the committee have recommended that in future the default position for such Crown Estate properties should be that such sub-letting should be banned, unless there was a specific exemption.”
- SupportedHe sub-let three cottages at Royal Lodge without having to pay rent himself, according to the Public Accounts Committee report.BBC News: “Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor was receiving up to £2,000 per month for sub-letting three cottages at his former home at Royal Lodge, when he didn't have to pay any rent himself, according to the public spending watchdog.”
- SupportedThe sub-letting income went to Mountbatten-Windsor, not the Crown Estate.BBC News: “The sub-letting income went to Mountbatten-Windsor, rather than his landlord the Crown Estate.”
- SupportedHe did not always rent out the cottages, so the total income over more than 20 years is unclear.BBC News: “The Public Accounts Committee inquiry into the Crown Estate says the former Prince Andrew did not always rent out all the properties, so it cannot say how much the total might have been over more than 20 years of his time there.”
- SupportedHe took on a 75-year Royal Lodge lease in 2003 and paid about £7.5 million towards renovation and other charges, meaning he did not have to pay rent.BBC News: “Mountbatten-Windsor had taken on a 75-year lease for Royal Lodge in 2003 and had paid about £7.5m towards its renovation and other charges, which meant that he did not have to pay rent.”
- SupportedHe left Royal Lodge in February in the wake of revelations about his connections to Jeffrey Epstein.BBC News: “Mountbatten-Windsor left his Royal Lodge home in Windsor in February, in the wake of revelations about his connections to the US sex offender Jeffrey Epstein.”
- SupportedAfter his departure, about £300,000 was due to him for surrendering the lease early, but a £1.8 million repair bill left the Crown Estate owed £1.5 million, which King Charles paid on his behalf.BBC News: “There was a payment of about £300,000 due to him for his early surrender of his lease, but because of "dilapidations" in the state of the building, there was a repair bill of £1.8m. That meant the Crown Estate was owed £1.5m, which King Charles paid on his brother's behalf.”
- SupportedThe committee raised concerns about rent for non-working royals accommodated in three royal properties; the group was believed to include Beatrice and Eugenie, who do not pay for their accommodation, and the King pays their rent from private income.BBC News: “The watchdog's report also highlighted concerns about the level of rent being charged to non-working royals who had been given accommodation in three royal properties. That was believed to be Mountbatten-Windsor's daughters, Princess Beatrice and Princess Eugenie, and Prince and Princess Michael of Kent.”
- SupportedThe report said Crown Estate administration costs had risen by 129% since 2020–21.BBC News: “The report said administration costs had risen by 129% since 2020-21”
- SupportedThe report said chief executive Dan Labbad’s salary had risen by 106% since 2020–21 and his 2025–26 pay package was worth £2.3 million.BBC News: “the chief executive, Dan Labbad's salary had risen by 106% over that time. In 2025-26 his pay package was worth £2.3m.”
- SupportedA Crown Estate spokeswoman said: “The Public Accounts Committee report is an important part of our accountability to Parliament. We are considering its findings and recommendations and will respond to the Committee in due course.”BBC News: “In response, a Crown Estate spokeswoman said: "The Public Accounts Committee report is an important part of our accountability to Parliament. We are considering its findings and recommendations and will respond to the Committee in due course."”