Andrew has officially surrendered Royal Lodge to the Crown Estate bringing a major chapter in the long running property dispute to an end as fresh developments emerge in a separate police investigation involving the former prince.
According to royal author Rebecca English, Andrew has fully vacated the Windsor property more than 50 years before his lease was due to expire.
English shared details of the handover on X, revealing that Andrew paid £1.8 million in dilapidations, covering costs associated with the property’s condition.
Under the terms of the lease, he was reportedly entitled to £302,000 in compensation for surrendering the property early.
English said the Crown Estate received a net amount of approximately £1.5 million after the relevant payments were accounted for.
“The overall net amount received by The Crown Estate is £1.5m, which is now focused on determining the potential future use of the property,” she wrote.
The development marks a significant change for Andrew, who had lived at Royal Lodge for years. The substantial Windsor residence became the focus of public scrutiny amid questions about his future housing arrangements and his position within the Royal Family.
The property handover also comes as Andrew continues to face attention over separate allegations involving misconduct in public office. However, the Royal Lodge agreement and the police investigation are distinct matters.
In another development, the High Court proceedings reportedly resulted in an agreement between Andrew and Thames Valley Police concerning search warrants issued in February to search two of his properties.
According to the supplied report, the warrants were agreed to be unlawful and should be quashed. The development represents a legal outcome concerning the searches, rather than a final determination of the wider allegations involving Andrew.
Crucially, the agreement does not mean the investigation into alleged misconduct in public office has ended. The inquiry is reported to be continuing, and the allegations have not been resolved simply by the outcome concerning the warrants.
Andrew’s departure from Royal Lodge therefore comes at a time when both his living arrangements and his legal position remain under public scrutiny.
The Crown Estate is now considering possible future uses for the property, although no final decision about its next purpose has been announced in the information provided.
For now, the confirmed details in the report centre on the handover, the dilapidations payment and the net sum received by the Crown Estate. The separate police investigation remains ongoing, meaning the latest developments do not bring all questions surrounding Andrew to a close.
