Former Prince Andrew, who had to leave his Royal Lodge home at the start of 2026 after new revelations in the Epstein affair, paid 1.8 million pounds (nearly 2 million francs) for its restoration, and at the same time received 302,000 pounds (332,00 francs) in compensation for the premature termination of the lease, the company which manages the crown’s property said on Friday.
Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor, brother of Charles III, had lived in the 30-room mansion since 2003 with his ex-wife Sarah Ferguson. He had signed a 75-year lease contract and was not paying rent.
“The previous tenant vacated the premises and paid 1.8 million pounds in repairs” for the restoration after his departure, said the Crown Estate, a company which administers the land and real estate assets of the crown in a press release.
As for the compensation of 302,000 pounds, “the tenant was entitled to compensation if the contract was terminated within the first 25 years”, under a clause introduced “to reflect the significant renovation work (approximately 7.5 million pounds) undertaken at the start of the lease”, specified the Crown Estate.
Not been charged to date
The British auditor, the National Audit Office, also indicated this summer that the ex-prince had sublet cottages in this royal residence for years.
Andrew, 66, was stripped of his royal titles by Charles III in October 2025 following the publication of the posthumous memoirs of Virginia Giuffre, the main accuser of Jeffrey Epstein, which implicated the king’s brother.
He was then ordered to leave the Royal Lodge residence, and moved to the royal estate of Sandringham in Norfolk (eastern England) in early February.
“We are now fully focused on the future use (of Royal Lodge) and the possibilities of generating additional financial value for the nation through its anticipated return” in the Crown Estate portfolio, the latter said on Friday.
Andrew’s Royal Lodge home and new Sandringham residence were raided in February around the time of the deposed prince’s historic arrest, following revelations about his links to US sex criminal Jeffrey Epstein.
He has not been charged to date and has always denied any wrongdoing in connection with the Epstein affair.
The High Court in London ruled on Thursday, after an application by Andrew, that the searches carried out at his home were unlawful. The police, who are continuing their investigation, are nevertheless looking for legal means to keep the seized parts.
