UK auditors expose Andrew's 'peppercorn rent' on 10 royal properties

The UK National Audit Office (NAO) published its most detailed review of royal property arrangements on Friday, following a parliamentary inquiry launched last December. The report shows Prince Andrew held leases for ten properties, three of which he sublet. King Charles pays rent for his nieces' palace homes, while Andrew himself paid a 'peppercorn rent' – a nominal amount – for some properties. The NAO examined agreements between the royal family, the Royal Household, and the Crown Estate, a property portfolio owned by the monarchy but run independently with profits going to the Treasury.

Andrew was forced to vacate the Royal Lodge mansion on the King's Windsor estate last year after being stripped of all titles over his ties to convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein. Critics of the monarchy have seized on the report to question royal wealth and privilege. A Buckingham Palace spokesperson said: 'We hope that the findings will help correct, clarify or contextualise a number of points regarding royal properties.' The report comes amid growing public scrutiny of the monarchy's finances, with the NAO calling for greater transparency in lease agreements and property valuations.