Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor left Royal Lodge needing repairs costing £1.8million, it emerged today.
The former Duke of York was evicted from the Windsor mansion amid the furore of his ties to Jeffrey Epstein.
The Crown Estate announced he was entitled to £302,000 to be knocked off the repair bill because his lease of the home was terminated early.
The King’s brother has now settled the bill of £1.8million for repairs to the 30-room mansion after his two decades of living there.
It is thought that an outbuilding needed substantial repairs. Repairs were also needed on the main house and the garden area was in need of restoration.
When Andrew took over the property in 2003, he paid £7.5million for refurbishments. He then lived for two decades paying a ‘peppercorn’ rent.
Now, after moving out, the Crown Estate has revealed the cost of more repairs before the property can be rented out again.
It said: ‘The former tenant has fully vacated and paid £1.8million for dilapidations.
‘This sum was informed and reviewed by independent advisors.
‘The amount of compensation the tenant is entitled to for surrendering the lease in October 2026 is circa £302,000.
‘Therefore, the overall net amount received by The Crown Estate is £1.5million.’
Andrew and Sarah Ferguson lived for years together in Windsor despite being divorced. After Andrew was evicted earlier this year, assessors found Royal Lodge needed £1.8m repairs
Royal Lodge (pictured), the lavish Windsor mansion Andrew shared with his ex-wife Sarah Ferguson
Extracts from Prince Andrew’s lease with the Crown Estate showing his ‘one peppercorn’ annual rent
The disgraced former prince lived in the grandiose 30-room home set in 98 pristine acres of Windsor Great Park rent-free since 2003 until January or February this year.
He paid just ‘one peppercorn (if demanded) per annum’ – according to his lease.
The Crown Estate is an independent commercial body whose profits go to the Treasury but is obliged to get the best value for the public.
It said the Royal Lodge lease has been handed back more than 50 years early, ‘which means additional value can be generated much sooner than expected’.
The Crown Estate said in a statement: ‘We can confirm the lease for Royal Lodge with former tenant Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor has been surrendered.
‘The lease has been handed back more than 50 years early – which means additional value can be generated much sooner than expected.
‘As per the terms of his lease, the tenant was entitled to receive compensation if the lease was surrendered within the first 25 years. This term was included in the lease to reflect the significant (c.£7.5m) refurbishments made by the tenant at the start of the lease. The amount of compensation the tenant is entitled to for surrendering the lease in October 2026 is c.£302k.’
A spokeswoman said: ‘The lease for Royal Lodge has ended and our focus now is firmly on its future use and the opportunities to generate additional financial value for the nation from its early return.’
It has a statutory duty to maintain the character of the Windsor Estate as a Royal park and forest.
It said the lodge would now be marketed for its proposed future use ‘by two nationally recognised agents’.
