Margaret Hodge Blasts NAO Over 3 Andrew Cottages as Royal Property Scrutiny Widens
Updated
Updated · The Guardian · Jun 5
Margaret Hodge Blasts NAO Over 3 Andrew Cottages as Royal Property Scrutiny Widens
3 articles · Updated · The Guardian · Jun 5
Summary
Margaret Hodge said it was “shocking” the National Audit Office could not determine how much Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor earned from subletting three cottages on the Windsor Royal Lodge estate.
The criticism followed an NAO report showing Andrew received private income from those lets while paying a “peppercorn rent” to the Crown Estate, and Hodge said the review also failed to cover all relevant royal properties.
Hodge also questioned taxpayer-backed housing for non-working royals, citing Beatrice, Eugenie and the Kents, and asked whether such subsidies were appropriate.
The report said King Charles pays below-market adjusted rent from the Duchy of Lancaster for Beatrice and Eugenie’s homes, while the Waleses’ Windsor home had £400,000 of Crown Estate repairs before they took a 20-year lease at £307,200 a year.
The findings will underpin a Commons public accounts committee inquiry launched after last year’s outcry over Andrew’s rent deal, with both the Crown Estate and Buckingham Palace saying the arrangements were transparent and professionally valued.