British Audit Report Reveals Explosive Details on Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor's Tenancy

He apparently took advantage of this opportunity: he sublet three smaller cottages on the Royal Lodge grounds and kept the rental income. The National Audit Office stated: "The income generated from the subletting went to Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor." However, the authority also admitted: "We are not aware of the rent charged."

Three Vacant Cottages and a Move

According to unnamed insiders, the tenants were primarily employees; Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor did not aim to make a profit from the subletting but merely to ensure the upkeep of the buildings. However, no evidence was provided to the NAO to support this claim.

The Royal Lodge has been vacant since April, as the 66-year-old was forced to leave the property. King Charles III. had ordered the move. Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor now lives in a comparatively modest building, known as Marsh Farm, on the Sandringham estate in Norfolk. According to the report, he moved there in early 2026.

Should he terminate the lease prematurely, he could theoretically be entitled to compensation of around £302,000 to £488,000, according to the NAO. However, the Crown Estate pointed out that potential claims for damages and necessary building repairs would likely consume this amount.

The audit report emerged during a period of sharp public debate about the lack of transparency in the living and rental arrangements within the British Royal Family. The arrangements of the royal family, in particular, have been under scrutiny for months.

Reactions from Politics and the Palace

In addition to Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor, the rental arrangements of Princess Beatrice and Princess Eugenie also came under scrutiny. According to the NAO, the two daughters of the Prince also hold very favorable rental agreements for their royal residences; King Charles III. covers their rental costs. Both sisters, aged 37 and 36, do not perform official duties for the Royal Family.

Norman Baker, a Liberal Democrat politician and former Home Office minister, sharply criticized the agreements. He said it showed "an absolute, total contempt for the taxpayer." A Palace spokesperson, on the other hand, stated that they were grateful to the National Audit Office for the report, which was in line with the Royal Family's commitment to transparency. A spokesperson for the Crown Estate added that "the rental and lease agreements with members of the Royal Family were each agreed on the basis of independent valuations and market-standard assessments." Buckingham Palace also emphasized that living arrangements depended on factors such as location, security requirements, and usage.

Investigations and Epstein's Shadow

The revelations come at an already difficult time for Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor. Due to his long-standing association with the convicted US sex offender Jeffrey Epstein, who operated an abuse ring, King Charles III. stripped his brother of all royal titles and honors in the previous autumn. British investigative authorities are conducting official investigations against him. In February, investigators searched Royal Lodge.

Police are investigating, among other things, allegations of misconduct in public office related to Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor's former role as Britain's special envoy between 2001 and 2011. The investigations have reportedly been significantly expanded. A complaint that the Prince behaved inappropriately towards a service employee at the Royal Ascot horse race in 2002 is also being examined. Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor denies all allegations and has rejected any wrongdoing.

Most recently, photos showing the 66-year-old with a striking blue-red bruise around his right eye near his new residence in Norfolk caused a stir. The origin of the injury is unclear. British media cited unnamed sources as saying there was no cause for concern. A few weeks earlier, a masked man reportedly ran towards him during a walk and shouted from a distance; Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor then left the scene with his bodyguard. Virginia Giuffre had accused the Prince of abusing her as a 17-year-old; he has always denied these allegations and reached a multi-million dollar settlement in a US civil lawsuit.