Why King Charles Still Can’t Evict Prince Andrew from Royal Lodge — Even After Stripping His Titles
King Charles may own several Crown properties, but when it comes to evicting Prince Andrew from Royal Lodge, his authority stands null and void. On October 17, Andrew formally gave up his royal titles after a private discussion with the King, following the fallout from his leaked email to Jeffrey Epstein. In the aftermath, many assumed it was Charles's long-awaited chance to finally remove his brother from Royal Lodge. But, thanks to a rare 'peppercorn rent' agreement, Andrew cannot be legally evicted, ensuring his stay at the property.
The 65-year-old disgraced Prince reportedly has not paid full rent on Royal Lodge for over 20 years. The Times obtained a copy of his leasehold agreement for Royal Lodge, showing his unique 'peppercorn rent' agreement. For the unversed, when Andrew acquired the 75-year lease of the property in 2003, he paid $1.2 million for the privileges and later about $9 million for restoring the mansion. As part of the agreement, his official rent is effectively symbolic, just 'one peppercorn (if demanded)' per year. In practical terms, this means that for more than two decades, the Prince has lived rent-free.
The Peppercorn rent is a legal term that refers to the symbolic payment Andrew makes to the Crown Estate. It represents a nominal or token sum that fulfills the legal requirement for paying rent, but the amount is so minimal that it is largely symbolic. According to the GOV UK website, peppercorn rent "can occur, for example, where a tenant has paid a large premium." Commenting on the same, royal expert Rachel Avery told HELLO!, "It's fairly commonplace for royals to lease a property from the Crown Estate, and each one comes with a different contract."
As part of Andrew's agreement, the lease is effective until 2078, the year he would turn 118. The Crown property is also heritable, meaning it can be passed down to his two daughters. However, there's an incentive for him to leave early: if he vacates before 2028, the Crown Estate is, interestingly, required to pay him $227,000 annually as compensation.
The Daily Beast reports that the notional $10 million he sunk into the property is roughly about $138,000 a year if he stays for the full 75-year term, a fraction of the market rate for the house. Despite the unique arrangement, Charles is allegedly under pressure to find a solution and shift the disgraced Prince to Frogmore Cottage.
While Charles remains powerless in his quest to evict Andrew, he reportedly withdrew his embattled brother’s $1.2 million allowance last year. Despite his income being cut off, the Prince has managed to keep the Estate running. The Sunday Times reported in the past that the funds he presented to retain the property were vetted and approved by the Keeper of the Privy Purse, who confirmed they came from 'legitimate sources.' Commenting on the same, royal expert Ingrid Seward told Fox News Digital, "There’s no doubt that Charles is the one who is providing the money for Andrew, because the [late] Queen wouldn’t have left Andrew bereft."