Andrew gives up lease on another Crown Estate property

Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor is in the process of ending his lease on a Crown Estate property known as East Lodge, according to information obtained by the BBC. This Grade II-listed, 19th-century thatched cottage is situated near Sunninghill Park in Berkshire, close to the former royal’s previous residence, and had been rented by him for almost £13,000 annually. Documents reveal that the lease arrangement has been in place for over two decades and was renewed as recently as 2020.

The former prince had announced last year that he was vacating Royal Lodge in Windsor and relocating to Sandringham amid scrutiny surrounding his association with convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein—an allegation he has denied. Although he gave up Royal Lodge, Mountbatten-Windsor retained the tenancy of East Lodge, a smaller property located roughly five miles from Windsor, which is believed to have been used as accommodation for his staff. The building itself sits near the site of his former residence at Sunninghill Park, a larger estate that was controversially sold in 2007.

Lease records indicate that when Mountbatten-Windsor first took on East Lodge in 1998, the annual rent was £3,500, with provisions for increases linked to inflation. By 2020, this figure had risen to about £8,000, and further reviews last summer saw the rent increase to nearly £13,000. This rate aligns with rental values in the affluent area between Windsor and Ascot, where properties of various sizes command significant monthly rents. Despite his departure from Royal Lodge and the loss of his royal titles, he continued to hold the lease on East Lodge until recently.

Following a Freedom of Information request filed by the BBC earlier this year, the Crown Estate disclosed that Mountbatten-Windsor had asked to end his tenancy at East Lodge ahead of the lease’s scheduled expiration in 2027. The timeline for vacating the property will depend on arrangements concerning the current occupants, who are understood to be staff. The Crown Estate emphasized that daily occupancy is a private matter distinct from the tenancy itself. Meanwhile, Mountbatten-Windsor has moved to a residence owned by King Charles III at Sandringham, where he lives without cost to the public. The Crown Estate, operating independently to maximize value for the public treasury, confirmed it was considering the early lease termination following the recent inquiry

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