Prince Andrew has paid ‘peppercorn rent’ on Royal Lodge for more than 20 years

Prince Andrew has paid a “peppercorn rent” on Royal Lodge for more than 20 years, it has emerged this morning.

Prince Andrew has been paying just a “peppercorn rent” on Royal Lodge for over two decades, it has been revealed this morning.

The Duke signed a 75-year lease on the estate in 2003, but since then has paid merely “one peppercorn” in rent “if demanded” annually, according to the leasehold contract. Documents obtained by the Press Association show Andrew forked out £1 million for the lengthy lease on the 30-bedroom property in 2003.

His choice to relinquish his Royal titles and patronages following increased scrutiny over his connections to paedophile financier Jeffrey Epstein has sparked debate, including whether Andrew should retain the right to reside at the Royal Lodge estate in Windsor.

However, the fresh details also reveal the Crown Estate would be obliged to compensate Andrew approximately £558,000 should he surrender the lease. This stems from a provision in the “cast iron” leasehold contract, which doesn’t expire until 2078.

Andrew is understood not to have inherited any substantial sum from either the Queen or Queen Mother, the Daily Mail reports. This has prompted additional questions about his ability to maintain the property – especially given he no longer receives a personal allowance from the King or taxpayer funding.

Yet it has now come to light that the father-of-two has paid virtually no rent since 2003. The Crown Estate, which manages the Royal family’s land and property portfolio, provided a copy of the leasehold contract to journalists last night.

When questioned about whether the King’s brother should continue residing at the property, children and families minister Josh MacAlister responded on Times Radio on Monday morning: “You’ll understand why a Government minister isn’t going to get into second guessing what Buckingham Palace and the King may decide. I imagine over the course of this week there may be lots of questions about arrangements for Prince Andrew.”

Andrew categorically denies Virginia Giuffre’s allegations that she was coerced into having sexual relations with him three times after being trafficked by Epstein, reports the Mirror.

Ms Giuffre’s memoirs are due to be published today. Amy Wallace, co-author of Nobody’s Girl, spoke to BBC Newsnight, expressing her belief that she could represent Ms Giuffre’s views on Andrew relinquishing his titles.

She stated: “I know that she would view it as a victory that he was forced by whatever means to voluntarily give them up. For many, maybe particularly in the United States, but maybe even in the UK, it’s a symbolic gesture but it’s an important one.

“It’s made history, modern history, in terms of the royal era. I mean I’ve never heard of such a thing happening and it also is just a step in the right direction.

“Virginia wanted all the men who she’d been trafficked to against her will to be held to account and this is just one of the men but… even though he continues to deny it his life is being eroded because of his past behaviour as it should be.”