According to Sky News, a report by the National Audit Office has revealed that the former prince, Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor, earned rental income by subletting cottages at Royal Lodge to staff, while paying only a minimal rent himself. The broadcaster reported that the findings have placed royal residences back in the spotlight and raised fresh questions about transparency around the royal estate.
According to Sky News, the income came from properties on Andrew's Windsor estate. The broadcaster reported that the king's younger brother received money by subletting three cottages on the estate, even though he himself paid what was described as a peppercorn rent for the property he occupies.
According to Sky News, the disclosures came from the National Audit Office, the public spending watchdog. The broadcaster reported that the body's report set out the arrangements at Royal Lodge, drawing attention to how the estate is managed and to the limited information available about the sums that have changed hands.
According to Sky News, it is not known how much Andrew has made from the sublets. The broadcaster reported that the lack of clarity over the figures is part of what has raised serious questions about transparency, with the full details of the arrangements not having been disclosed.
According to Sky News, the report also examined wider royal accommodation costs. The broadcaster reported that it found King Charles personally pays the rent for Andrew's daughters, Princesses Beatrice and Eugenie, when they stay in royal accommodation, despite neither of them being working royals.
According to Sky News, the two princesses live in royal residences in London. The broadcaster reported that Princess Beatrice has an apartment within St James's Palace, while her sister Eugenie has a home at Kensington Palace, with both properties located inside security cordons.
According to Sky News, the rent for those homes is already reduced because of their position within secure areas. The broadcaster reported that the combination of the subletting arrangements and the funding of non-working royals' homes has renewed scrutiny of how the royal estate is run and how its finances are accounted for.