Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor has received £302,000 in compensation after officially surrendering the lease on his former Royal Lodge home in Windsor. The former prince paid £1.8 million in repair and restoration costs as the lease was handed back more than 50 years early, a Crown Estate spokesperson said.
Compensation and Repair Costs Revealed
Andrew was entitled to compensation because, under the terms of his lease, he surrendered it within the first 25 years. The Crown Estate spokesperson said: “The lease for Royal Lodge has ended and our focus now is firmly on its future use and the opportunities to generate additional financial value for the nation from its early return.”
The entrance gates near the Royal Lodge, the former home of Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor in Windsor, Berkshire, were pictured as the property was vacated.
Timeline of the Royal Lodge Deal
In 2003, Andrew secured a 75-year lease, paying £1 million for the lease on Royal Lodge and agreeing to spend £7.5 million on refurbishment. The original agreement would have allowed him to remain until 2078.
In 2005, the original deal came under scrutiny when a National Audit Office report examined the lease arrangements, including the refurbishment commitment and the compensation provision if Andrew ended the lease early.
Renewed Scrutiny and Final Figures
By 2025, questions mounted over the lease terms, including the fact that Andrew paid a nominal peppercorn rent rather than regular market rent. The Crown Estate initially estimated that end-of-tenancy repairs could wipe out any compensation due.
In January 2026, Royal Lodge was vacated, with reporting published on 9 October saying the property had been vacant since January, ahead of the formal end of the lease. A van was seen entering Wood Farm on the Sandringham Estate in Norfolk, where Andrew relocated following his departure.
Lease Ends and Future Use Considered
In October 2026, the lease ended and the final figures emerged: Andrew received £302,000 in compensation and paid £1.8 million in repair and restoration costs, according to the Crown Estate. The organisation says it will now consider how to generate additional financial value from the property's early return.
