Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor has reportedly relinquished another Crown Estate property lease following his departure from Royal Lodge last year. The former Duke of York requested to terminate his lease on East Lodge, a Grade II-listed cottage near Sunninghill Park in Berkshire, which he had rented for £13,000 annually. This property, located near his former residence, is the second Crown Estate property that Andrew has given up.
After nearly 30 years of tenancy, questions have arisen about the financial means behind Andrew’s ability to afford the property. Records indicate that he began leasing East Lodge in February 1998, initially paying £3,500 per year, with the rent increasing significantly over the years.
The property, situated close to his previous home in Sunninghill Park, was reportedly utilized for staff accommodation. Despite vacating Royal Lodge in late 2025, Andrew held onto the lease for East Lodge for an extended period. The financial aspects of his tenancy have raised concerns, as the rent for the property amounted to more than half of his declared annual income.
Andrew’s distancing from his family stemmed from his association with Jeffrey Epstein, a convicted sex offender. Despite denying any wrongdoing related to Epstein, Andrew faced financial repercussions, including the loss of his £1 million annual royal allowance in 2024. His income was reduced to a declared £20,000 Naval pension to cover expenses such as the mansion’s maintenance and a substantial security bill.
Recent documents reveal that Andrew paid a nominal rent for more than two decades for Royal Lodge, having signed a long-term lease in 2004. The rent for East Lodge, subject to inflation adjustments, had risen to £12,922 annually by August 2025, surpassing local rental rates.
Although Andrew’s lease for East Lodge was set to expire in July 2027, it is now expected to end prematurely following BBC inquiries into the property. The Crown Estate confirmed receiving a request for early termination of the lease.
