Prince Andrew’s situation with King Charles over Royal Lodge has finally been analyzed by a property expert who believes he knows what the future holds.
For those unfamiliar, Royal Lodge is a 30-bedroom property, which was rented by the former Duke of York for £1 million in 2003. More than £7.5 million was also separately spent on refurbishments.
Due to the nature of the “cast iron” lease, any early termination or decision by the Crown Estate to remove Prince Andrew from the property will result in him receiving £557,595 in compensation, until 2028.
The real estate expert in question is We Buy Any Home CEO Elliot Castle.
spoke with uk express during his explanation and said: “From a property law point of view, Prince Andrew’s situation at the Royal Lodge appears to be governed by a long-term lease rather than a traditional rental agreement. If, as reported, the terms of the lease were established in 2003 with a significant down payment and investment in renovation, then he would retain security of tenure under those agreed conditions.”
Furthermore, “the reference to a ‘lease in grain’ is symbolic, a common feature in long-term leases where the tenant has paid a large premium up front.”
Also, for those who don’t know, in simple terms it means that “the occupier has effectively purchased long-term rights to the property, although the freehold remains in the Crown Estate.”
So, “whether King Charles could alter or terminate that agreement would depend entirely on the legal structure of the lease.”
In terms of what control King Charles has over this decision, the source said: “Unless there is a specific clause allowing termination under certain conditions, it would be very difficult to remove a tenant without agreement or compensation, regardless of personal circumstances.”
The same goes for Sarah Ferguson Elliot said: “her residence would probably be tied to Prince Andrew’s leasehold rights rather than any separate property. If the lease continues, her position would generally remain unchanged.”
However, “overall, while the situation attracts public attention due to its royal connections, the underlying ownership principles are fairly standard: a long-term lease provides security, but ultimate ownership and control rests with the owner, in this case the Crown,” he said before signing off.
