Parliament Raises Concerns Over Prince Andrew’s Royal Lodge Living Arrangements

Amid the ongoing scandal surrounding Prince Andrew and his ties to Jeffrey Epstein, Parliament’s spending watchdog has brought attention to the value for money of the Duke of York’s living arrangements at Royal Lodge. The Public Accounts Committee (PAC) has questioned whether the ‘peppercorn’ rent that Prince Andrew pays for his residence is the most appropriate use of public funds, considering his changed role and responsibilities.

MPs have demanded clarity from the Crown Estate and the Treasury regarding the lease arrangements for Royal Lodge. The PAC chairman, Sir Geoffrey Clifton Brown, highlighted the public interest in how public money is being spent on Prince Andrew, especially now that he is no longer a working royal and faces serious allegations.

The PAC is concerned that the current tenancy at Royal Lodge may not be achieving the best value for money, given the recent developments in Prince Andrew’s life. The Crown Estate, which manages the property, has been urged to consider the ‘best consideration of money or money’s worth’ in their management decisions.

As pressure mounts on Prince Andrew, with calls for private prosecution and questions about his daughters’ royal roles, the scrutiny over his living arrangements at Royal Lodge continues. The debate over the value for money of his rent-free life in Windsor has sparked a broader discussion about the use of public funds in supporting members of the royal family.