Prince Andrew faces an uneasy future within the royal family following his decision to give up his official titles.
In October 2025, Prince Andrew announced that he would “no longer use my title or the honors which have been conferred upon” him due to his connection to late disgraced financier and convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein.” The prince has continued to “vigorously deny” any wrongdoing, though he did reach a private settlement with late Epstein accuser Virginia Giuffre in 2022 after she sued him for sexual assault. (Epstein and Giuffre both died by suicide, in 2019 and 2025, respectively.)
One major question about Prince Andrew’s future is whether he will continue living at Royal Lodge, a home owned by the Crown Estate on the Windsor Home Park estate and leased to him since 2003.
There has been significant outrage in the U.K. over Prince Andrew and the Crown Estate’s “peppercorn rent” agreement for the property, which essentially allowed him to live on the property without paying significant rent for 22 years.
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Keep scrolling for the full explanation of Prince Andrew’s residence at Royal Lodge.
Why Doesn’t Prince Andrew Pay Traditional Rent at Royal Lodge?
Prince Andrew does not independently own Windsor Castle — the property is part of a collection of real estate purchased by the royal family, known as the Crown Estate. The Crown Estate manages all royal residences for the benefit of the U.K. taxpayer.
In 2003, Prince Andrew signed a 75-year lease for Royal Lodge, which is located about three miles south of Windsor Castle. (King Charles III uses Windsor Castle to host official state functions, while Prince William and Kate Middleton lived nearby at Adelaide Cottage before moving to Forest Lodge in Windsor Great Park in 2025.)
London’s The Times reported that Prince Andrew and the Crown Estate made a “peppercorn rent” agreement at the time, where he would pay £1 million for the lease, plus fund any necessary renovation fees. Prince Andrew reportedly contributed £7.5 million for refurbishments that were completed in 2005, plus he paid an additional $2.5 million for a rent buyout.
As per the legal requirements of his lease, Prince Andrew has not been required to pay traditional annual rent for his Windsor estate, which includes a six-bedroom cottage, a Chapel Lodge, a gardener’s cottage and security accommodations.
Prince Andrew instead agreed to fund ongoing renovations that may be required to keep Royal Lodge in good condition. BBC News reported in October 2025 that he would comply with royal inspectors’ appraisal of the property every five years, as part of a “paint, paper, polish, decorate” clause in his lease.
What is ‘Peppercorn Rent’?
According to the U.K. government, “peppercorn rent” is a term meaning “a rent that was of nominal or low value.” Essentially, the term signifies a recurring payment that is more symbolic than valuable to satisfy the terms of a contract.
New revisions in 2022 defined “peppercorn rent” for the first time as “an annual rent of one peppercorn,” which essentially restricts this type of rent to nearly “zero financial value.” Under these new rules, landlords are under no obligation to “levy a peppercorn rent” unless they choose to do so.
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In Prince Andrew’s case, the deal he signed for the property in 2003 means that he can pay a nominal fee per year — perhaps £1 or nothing at all — because he paid upfront costs for renovation. The Times reported in October 2025 that Prince Andrew had not paid significant rent on the property following completion of refurbishment in 2005.
Will Prince Andrew Be Forced to Move Out of Royal Lodge?
It’s unlikely Prince Andrew could be forced by the Crown Estate to move out of Royal Lodge. BBC News clarified in October 2025 that Andrew has an independently-held “cast-iron lease” on the property.
Because Prince Andrew paid all of the upfront fees associated with his lease, he has the right to continue residing there with a “peppercorn rent” agreement at least through 2078 — or, essentially, for the rest of his life.
Prince Andrew could possibly be persuaded to give up the property to avoid any more negative publicity for the royal family, though that would be a decision only he had the authority to make since he honored the terms of his original lease.
The Times reported that, if Andrew was persuaded to give up his Royal Lodge lease, the Crown Estate would be required to pay him £558,000, plus a “compensatory sum” of £185,865 each year through 2028.
Christopher Andersen, royal expert and author of Brothers and Wives, exclusively told Us Weekly in October 2025 that keeping the tenancy of Royal Lodge was one way for Prince Andrew to control his destiny in the face of mounting scandal.
“Gradually, since the Queen’s death, it has dawned on Andrew that he might really be booted out of the royal fold altogether,” Andersen explained. “His titles, his privilege, his status all mattered to him.
The royal expert went on, “That has all been peeled away over the last few years and now he’s just hanging on by his fingertips. What matters most to Prince Andrew these days are all the perks — being able to hold on to Royal Lodge, his palatial home on the grounds of Windsor, maintaining a private staff and a cushy lifestyle.”
Which Other Royals Have Lived at Royal Lodge?
The modern Royal Lodge was rebuilt over a 10-year period between 1830 and 1840, after serving as the residence of artist Thomas Sandby and, later, court official Joseph Frost in the 18th century. By the mid-1800s, the Crown Estate took over ownership of the property.
In modern times, King George V eventually granted residence to the Duke of York (a.k.a. the future King George VI) in the 1930s. The Queen Mother became the primary tenant in the lead-up to her daughter Queen Elizabeth II’s coronation in 1953.
By the time of The Queen Mother’s death in March 2002, the property was significantly rundown and in need of major renovation. This is why a “peppercorn rent” agreement with Prince Andrew was so attractive for the Crown Estate, as he’d agree to pay for upfront costs to refurbish the property, rather than the Estate relying on taxpayer funds.
Numerous notable events have taken place at Royal Lodge since Prince Andrew signed his 75-year lease, including Princess Eugenie’s reception following her nuptials with Jack Brooksbank in 2018 as well as Princess Beatrice’s 2020 wedding to Edoardo Mapelli Mozzi at the Royal Chapel of All Saints.
