Prince Andrew Ends Lease on East Lodge

0:00On March 3rd, Prince Andrew is ending his lease on East Lodge, a crown estate property near his old home in Berkshire. The BBC reports he's been paying nearly 13,000 pounds a year in rent for the Thatch Cottage. He took on the lease back in February 1998, with rent starting at 3,500 pounds and rising over time due to inflation. It was renewed in 2020 even after he sold the nearby Sunninghill Park in 2007. Last year, amid fallout from his ties to Jeffrey Epstein, Andrew stepped away from Royal Lodge and requested early termination on this lease too, which was set to run until July 2027. Parliament's Public Accounts Committee plans to probe royal leases like this one later this year, aiming for more transparency and better value for taxpayers. The Crown Estate, which hands profits to the Treasury, notes occupancy details are private, possibly involving staff. Andrew has since relocated to Sandringham on a property owned by King Charles at no expense to the public.