A new controversy has further damaged Prince Andrew's image. According to a report published Friday by the National Audit Office (NAO), the British body responsible for auditing public accounts, the brother of King Charles III received income for several years from subletting cottages located on the Windsor royal estate, while he himself occupied his main residence without paying rent.
This document represents the most detailed examination ever conducted on the conditions of occupancy of British royal properties. It is intended to serve as the basis for a future parliamentary inquiry into the management of the monarchy's real estate holdings. For several years, the royal family's finances have been the subject of recurring criticism regarding their lack of transparency, a debate reignited by the numerous controversies surrounding the Duke of York.
Income from sublet cottages
The report reveals that Andrew sublet three cottages located within the grounds of Royal Lodge, a vast residence on the Windsor estate where he lived between 2003 and 2026 alongside his ex-wife Sarah Ferguson, until last April. The income generated by these rentals was paid directly to Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor, the prince's official name.
The auditor clarifies that this practice was authorized by the lease agreement and was not unique within the royal family. Prince Edward, the sovereign's younger brother, also reportedly benefited from a similar arrangement. However, the report emphasizes that no precise information could be obtained regarding the amounts actually received by Prince Andrew from these subleases.
A favorable lease at the heart of the criticism
To occupy Royal Lodge, a thirty-room mansion located in the heart of the Windsor royal estate, Andrew had signed a 75-year lease. In return, he had paid an initial premium of one million pounds sterling and had committed to financing approximately 7,5 million pounds of renovation work.
The report nevertheless emphasizes that the rent stipulated in the contract was purely symbolic. According to the NAO, this rent was actually set at zero pounds sterling. This revelation fuels questions about the benefits still enjoyed by Prince Andrew, who has been sidelined from public life for several years following his involvement in the Jeffrey Epstein affair.
Renewed calls for transparency
The report's findings provoked strong reactions in the British political class. Margaret Hodge, former chair of the Public Accounts Committee, described the revelations as "shocking." She expressed particular concern that the auditor had been unable to obtain the exact amount of rent received by the Duke of York.
For his part, Liberal Democrat MP Norman Baker denounced the situation as "outrageous" and indicative of a profound lack of transparency in the management of royal assets. As the British Parliament prepares to examine the monarchy's finances in greater detail, this new controversy could intensify the pressure for stricter oversight of the use of Crown property.
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