A newly published review of royal property arrangements has turned attention toward Prince Andrew, Princess Beatrice, and Princess Eugenie. The UK’s National Audit Office examined how official royal residences and Crown Estate homes are used, with questions around Andrew’s former lease of Royal Lodge helping drive interest in the findings. According to Town & Country, the report states that Beatrice and Eugenie have the rent for their palace homes paid by the King, while Andrew also received income from sub-letting cottages to staff during his time at Royal Lodge.
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Princess Beatrice and Princess Eugenie’s rent detailed
The report sets out how the two sisters are treated as non-working royals rather than full-time members of the official working family. Beatrice lives in an apartment at St James’s Palace, while Eugenie’s home is Ivy Cottage at Kensington Palace. Because they are not carrying out royal duties in exchange for accommodation, rent is charged. “The Household’s policy is to charge an adjusted rent of typically 60% of the open market value,” the National Audit Office said according to Town & Country. The report adds that those rents are currently paid through the Privy Purse.
Queen Elizabeth-era arrangement still in place
The payment setup dates back to the reign of Queen Elizabeth II and has continued under King Charles. That detail is likely to draw attention because both princesses are now in their 30s, are married, and have access to other homes outside London. Beatrice and her husband also spend time at a property in the Cotswolds, while Eugenie and her family are based in Portugal for part of the year. The same report also states that Prince and Princess Michael of Kent have their Kensington Palace rent paid by the King.
Prince Andrew’s Royal Lodge lease examined
Andrew’s former lease at Royal Lodge is another major part of the findings. The review says he was permitted under the terms of the lease to sub-let three cottages to staff and receive income from them. It has not been disclosed how much money that arrangement brought in. There is also no suggestion of wrongdoing in the report. Andrew has since ended the lease early and left the property, ending a chapter that had already drawn public scrutiny over the future of the large Windsor estate home.
William and Kate’s rent also outlined
The findings also draw a line between official residences and Crown Estate properties, showing how different rules apply across the royal household. Working royals do not pay rent on official residences, but they do pay for Crown Estate homes. As reported by Town & Country, Prince William and Catherine are paying about £300,000 a year in rent for Forest Lodge. The report also says the Crown Estate spent £400,000 on external repairs before the couple moved in. Buckingham Palace welcomed the review and said it was “in line with the Royal Household's commitment to transparency.”
