King Charles has personally covered a £1.5m repair bill owed by Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor for the poor condition of his former residence, Royal Lodge in Windsor. The funds, which are understood to come from the King’s private income, settle the outstanding debt owed to the Crown Estate following the formal conclusion of the lease agreement.
The total cost for the required repairs, described as “dilapidations,” amounted to £1.8m. However, this figure was reduced by £300,000, representing the compensation Mountbatten-Windsor would have been entitled to receive for an early surrender of his lease. The Crown Estate confirmed that they have not provided any additional payments to Mountbatten-Windsor and have now received the full net amount of £1.5m.
Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor vacated the property in February amid significant controversy regarding his associations with the late US sex offender Jeffrey Epstein, allegations of wrongdoing which he has consistently denied. Following his departure, he moved to the Sandringham estate, with the King providing for his accommodation and upkeep from his own private funds. Mountbatten-Windsor was also arrested in February on suspicion of misconduct in public office, a case that has recently involved a court ruling regarding the validity of police search warrants.
Although Mountbatten-Windsor moved out earlier this year, his lease on Royal Lodge officially remained in place until October. The terms of the 75-year lease, initiated in 2003, had required substantial up-front payments, including approximately £7.5m for repairs, which exempted him from paying monthly rent. The agreement also stipulated that he would be entitled to compensation if the lease were terminated within the first 25 years. Had he remained until October 2026, the Crown Estate would have owed him roughly £302,000; however, this amount was offset by the costs required to restore the building.
The payment by the King is intended to ensure the Crown Estate does not suffer a financial loss. Whether Mountbatten-Windsor will reimburse his brother remains a private matter, and there is no indication of how the King views the arrangement. Furthermore, officials stated that this payment is unrelated to the King’s recent clarification that his financial support will not extend to covering Andrew’s legal costs in his ongoing challenge regarding search warrants.
The future of the 30-room mansion remains undecided, though the Crown Estate expects to utilize the property to generate a commercial return. There are currently no plans for another royal occupant. A spokesperson for the Crown Estate noted that their focus is now on the future use of the property and opportunities to generate financial value following the early return of the estate. A previous report by the National Audit Office highlighted that Mountbatten-Windsor had been sub-letting buildings at the site, and also revealed that the King privately covered the costs for accommodation used by Andrew's daughters, Princess Beatrice and Princess Eugenie, at other royal palaces.
