London
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Britain’s Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor, previously a prince and the Duke of York, will probably be denied a six-figure compensation payout for his early eviction from a 30-room mansion on the Windsor estate resulting from its state of restore, the crown estate has stated.
In a briefing to the UK’s Public Accounts Committee (PAC), which examines the worth for cash of presidency initiatives and providers, the Crown Estate stated an preliminary evaluation of the Royal Lodge confirmed “in all likelihood that Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor will not be owed any compensation for early surrender of the lease … once dilapidations are taken into account.”
The Crown Estate added that whereas it doesn’t consider “any compensation will necessarily be due,” Andrew could be set to obtain a six-figure sum of £488,342.21 ($644,336), if “no end-of-tenancy repairs or dilapidations are required.”
King Charles had ordered his brother to go away the property in Windsor Great Park, west of London, as he introduced in October that Andrew could be stripped of his “prince” title resulting from controversy surrounding his friendship with convicted intercourse offender Jeffrey Epstein.
The property, which has been Andrew’s dwelling since 2003, sits on an estate of 40 hectares (99 acres). The estate includes a swimming pool, an aviary, six lodge cottages, a gardener’s cottage and lodging for police defending the royals to remain in.
The late Queen Elizabeth II granted Andrew, the third of her 4 kids, the precise to reside within the lodge, which is formally owned by the Crown Estate. The prince paid £1 million for the property in 2003, and underneath the phrases of the 75-year lease, which was resulting from expire on June 15, 2078, he was anticipated to pay for any refurbishment work and the upkeep of the encompassing grounds.
Andrew will transfer to a property on the Sandringham estate, about 100 miles north of London, which is privately owned by the British monarch. His new lodging will probably be privately funded by King Charles, however Andrew isn’t anticipated to maneuver in till after the Christmas holidays, in keeping with a royal supply.
The information comes because the PAC stated Tuesday it might launch an inquiry into the Crown Estate over excellent questions concerning Andrew’s lease settlement.
Geoffrey Clifton-Brown, an MP and chair of the PAC, thanked the Crown Estate and the Treasury for responding to committee’s questions, adding: “Having reflected on what we have received, the information provided clearly forms the beginnings of a basis for an inquiry.”
“We now await the conclusions the NAO (National Audit Office) will draw from this information, and plan to hold an inquiry based on the resulting evidence base in the new year,” he added.
The inquiry will take a look at the Crown Estate’s property leases with the Royal Family, which embody Prince Edward’s lease of Bagshot Park close to Windsor, and the Thatched House Lodge in Richmond, London, housing Princess Alexandra and her household.
NCS’s Lianne Kolirin and Lauren Said-Moorhouse contributed reporting.