Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor’s former home, the sprawling Royal Lodge in Windsor Great Park, is set to go back up for lease – but whoever takes on the 30-room mansion could face an annual upkeep bill of around £400,000.
The property has stood empty since Andrew left in February after revelations surrounding his friendship with the late convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein. He subsequently moved to a more modest property on the King’s Sandringham estate in Norfolk.
The Crown Estate is expected to take control of the lease from October, when Andrew’s current agreement comes to an end. Any prospective tenant will have to satisfy strict security requirements and demonstrate that they can meet the substantial costs of maintaining the property.
Royal Lodge is considerably more than a large country house. The Windsor Great Park property includes several outhouses and a swimming pool, while the Royal Chapel of All Saints is also located on the grounds. Any new tenant would be required to allow members of the Royal Family access to the chapel.
Despite its size and prestige, it appears that no other member of the Royal Family wants to take on the lease, leaving the Crown Estate free to seek a private tenant.
The property’s unusual financial history has already attracted scrutiny. Andrew paid £1 million for his lease and was subsequently required to pay just “one peppercorn” in annual rent, if demanded. He also paid a further £7.5 million towards refurbishments completed in 2005.
A National Audit Office investigation published in June also revealed that Andrew had received an undisclosed private income from subletting three cottages on the Royal Lodge estate for more than two decades.
The precise amount he earned was not disclosed. However, property buying agent Robin Edwards previously estimated that comparable cottages within the Windsor estate could command rents of between £2,500 and £5,000 a month each.
On that basis, three cottages could potentially have generated between £90,000 and £180,000 a year in rental income, depending on their size, condition and location.
The contrast between the former arrangement and the property’s future could therefore be stark. A prospective tenant will inherit responsibility for a mansion with an estimated £400,000 annual maintenance bill, while the Crown Estate will now be able to seek a commercial lease for one of the most unusual residences in Windsor.
