The Crown Estate says the payment has been agreed following the formal handover of the Windsor home, though a reported repair bill of £1.8m is understood to outweigh it.
Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor has been granted £302,000 in compensation after the lease on his former home, Royal Lodge in Windsor, was officially surrendered, a Crown Estate spokesperson said. The former prince left the property earlier this year and is now living on the Sandringham Estate. The surrender brings to an end an arrangement dating back to 2003. It is reported that he also faces a bill of about £1.8m for repairs.
The original lease
Under the agreement made in 2003, Mr Mountbatten-Windsor paid a £1m premium and agreed to spend £7.5m refurbishing Royal Lodge. In return, he received a 75-year lease at a nominal rent, commonly described as a “peppercorn” rent.
The lease also allowed him to sublet three of the eight cottages at Royal Lodge and keep the rental income. Those arrangements ended in April 2026. The total amount he received has not been publicly disclosed.
The repair bill
Following the handover, assessors reportedly calculated that roughly £1.8m was due for dilapidations. This covers repairs to the main house, an outbuilding and the gardens.
When that reported liability is set against the £302,000 compensation, the overall balance is approximately £1.5m payable to the Crown Estate, subject to the final settlement terms.
Scrutiny and the property’s future
The terms of the lease have drawn parliamentary scrutiny, which has focused on the agreement itself and on how the Crown Estate manages properties occupied by members of the Royal Family.
The future of Royal Lodge is a separate question. The property forms part of the Windsor Estate, which is managed by the Crown Estate. Its future use will need to be considered in light of the estate’s responsibilities and the value it generates for the nation.
