Why Ex-Prince Andrew's Home Wasn't Inspected for Decades

Ex-Prince Andrew wears a suit with a white shirt and a red tie and holds his hands in the air

(Image credit: Graham Barclay/Bloomberg via Getty Images)

Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor is set to move out of Royal Lodge in Windsor in 2026, with rumors suggesting he will be provided with a new home on The King's Sandringham estate. However, according to a royal expert, the fact that the former Prince Andrew's house hasn't been inspected by the Crown Estate for 22 years is pretty "extraordinary."

As reported by the Daily Mail, "Royal Lodge was not inspected once by Crown Estate officials in the 22 years Andrew lived there rent-free." According to the report, the lack on an official inspection has caused "controversy [to] grow over the dilapidated condition of his former home."

The outlet further reported, "When the lease for the 30-room Royal Lodge estate was signed in 2003, it included unique terms which included no rent but a costly upfront refurbishment and upkeep schedule." However, it appears as though the former Duke of York hasn't necessarily kept up with his required regular renovations—nor has he been checked on by royal officials.

'Royal Lodge, Windsor: The Country Home of the Royal Family', 1937. A Grade II listed house in Windsor Great Park in Berkshire, England, known as the Royal Lodge since the late 1820s. From &quot;George VI, King and Emperor&quot;, by Major J. T. Gorman [W. &amp; G. Foyle Ltd., London, 1937]. (Colorised black and white print). — Royal Lodge in Windsor.

Speaking to the Daily Mail, royal expert Richard Fitzwilliams explained, "There is little doubt that the extraordinary absence of inspections of Royal Lodge, which under the terms of the lease could be periodically carried out, will be seen as yet another example of the sweetheart deal between the Crown Estate and Andrew."

Fitzwilliams continued, "This revelation is all the more surprising when you consider the fact that Andrew has been involved in so many high-profile disasters in recent years, and still no one thought to inspect the condition of the property until recently."

Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor attends the Sunday Service at the Royal Chapel of All Saints — "This revelation is all the more surprising when you consider the fact that Andrew has been involved in so many high-profile disasters in recent years."

Per the outlet, when an inspection was finally carried out on Royal Lodge, officials "found it in a dilapidated state needing repairs." The scandal regarding Andrew's home "will undoubtedly lead to changes in the way leases involving members of the Royal Family are drawn up by the Crown Estate in the future," Fitzwilliams told the publication.

For now, at least, it appears as though Andrew won't receive any compensation for leaving Royal Lodge before the end of his lease, on account of the home's allegedly dreadful condition.

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Amy Mackelden is the weekend editor at Marie Claire, where she covers celebrity and royal family news. She was the weekend editor at Harper’s BAZAAR for three years, where she covered breaking celebrity and entertainment news, royal stories, fashion, beauty, and politics. Prior to that, she spent a year as the joint weekend editor for Marie Claire, ELLE, and Harper's BAZAAR, and two years as an entertainment writer at Bustle. Her additional bylines include Cosmopolitan, People, The Independent, HelloGiggles, Biography, Shondaland, Best Products, New Statesman, Heat, and The Guardian. Her work has been syndicated by publications including Town Country, Good Housekeeping, Esquire, Delish, Oprah Daily, Country Living, and Women's Health. Her celebrity interviews include Jennifer Aniston, Jessica Chastain, the cast of Selling Sunset, Emma Thompson, Jessica Alba, and Penn Badgley. In 2015, she delivered an academic paper at Kimposium, the world's first Kardashian conference.