Parliament’s spending watchdog asks Treasury and crown estate to explain rationale for arrangement
Politicians are demanding clarity over Prince Andrew’s “peppercorn” rent at Royal Lodge, as the parliamentary spending watchdog writes to the Treasury and crown estate asking for an explanation.
Keir Starmer had indicated that he was open to MPs questioning Andrew in person about his home in Windsor Great Park, where he has lived for more than 20 years.
Now, the public accounts select committee (PAC), chaired by veteran Conservative MP Geoffrey Clifton-Brown, has asked the Treasury and the crown estate to provide details on the 30-room property’s lease and explain the rationale behind it by 28 November.
Andrew has leased Royal Lodge from the UK state’s property empire, the crown estate, since 2003, after making a one-off payment of £1m to lease the property for 75 years. He has since paid £7.5m in refurbishments to the building.
