King Charles Pays Andrew's 1.5 Million Pound Repair Bill

King Charles has paid 1.5 million pounds owed by Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor for repairs to Royal Lodge in Windsor, covering the costs associated with the property's condition when his brother left the residence. The payment, drawn from the King's private income, settles the outstanding amount owed to the Crown Estate as Mountbatten-Windsor's lease officially ends in October 2026.

The Crown Estate had assessed a total of 1.8 million pounds in damages for the property's poor condition. That amount was offset by approximately 300,000 pounds in compensation Mountbatten-Windsor would otherwise have received for surrendering his lease early, leaving a net payment of 1.5 million pounds.

The Crown Estate confirmed that it had not paid Mountbatten-Windsor any money when the lease concluded and had received the outstanding net amount. The payment by the King is understood to have been made to ensure the estate did not suffer a financial loss.

Mountbatten-Windsor left the 30-room mansion in February amid renewed scrutiny of his connections to Jeffrey Epstein, a convicted US sex offender. He has consistently denied wrongdoing in relation to Epstein. He subsequently moved to Sandringham, where the King is providing for his accommodation and living expenses using private funds.

Later that month, Mountbatten-Windsor was arrested on suspicion of misconduct in public office. A court ruling on Thursday found fault with the search warrants used by police in the investigation.

Although he had vacated Royal Lodge months earlier, his lease remained in effect until October 2026. The Crown Estate has now disclosed the financial terms associated with its conclusion.

Mountbatten-Windsor secured a 75-year lease on Royal Lodge in 2003. Under the arrangement, he made substantial upfront payments, including approximately 7.5 million pounds for repairs, allowing him to occupy the property without paying monthly rent.

The lease also entitled him to compensation if he surrendered it within the first 25 years, with the amount decreasing annually. Leaving in October 2026 would have entitled him to approximately 302,000 pounds, but the repair costs exceeded that amount.

Whether Mountbatten-Windsor will reimburse his brother remains a private matter. No further details have been disclosed about his personal finances or the King's views on the arrangement.

The payment is separate from the King's position on funding his brother's legal expenses. Earlier in the same week, Charles had made clear that his financial support would not cover Mountbatten-Windsor's legal costs in his challenge to the search warrants.

The Crown Estate has not yet decided how Royal Lodge will be used in the future. The property is expected to generate commercial income, and there are currently no plans for another member of the royal family to live there.

A Crown Estate spokesperson said the lease had ended and the organization was concentrating on the property's future use and opportunities to generate additional financial value for the nation following its early return.

A report published earlier in 2026 by the National Audit Office also revealed that Mountbatten-Windsor had sublet buildings at Royal Lodge, although the amount of income generated was not disclosed.

The same report found that his daughters, Princess Beatrice and Princess Eugenie, had accommodation within royal palaces without paying for it themselves, with the costs covered privately by the King.