Prince Andrew's Daughters Could Inherit Residence Based on Crown Estate Lease
Prince William is set to play a crucial role in deciding the future living arrangements of Princess Beatrice and Princess Eugenie at Royal Lodge, as revealed by a property expert to GB News. The Duke of York, Prince Andrew, 64, has resided at the historic Windsor property since 2003 alongside his ex-wife, Sarah Ferguson.
Earlier this year, The Times reported that Prince Andrew's lease on the Royal Lodge includes provisions that may allow his daughters, Beatrice, 35, and Eugenie, 34, to inherit the property. The report clarified that Royal Lodge is let under a commercial lease agreement with the Crown Estate, rather than being a grace-and-favour residence.
According to the report, Prince Andrew paid an initial £1 million with an annual notional rent of approximately £260,000. The lease specifies that if the Duke passes away, it can only be transferred to named members of his immediate family.
Property expert Natalie Mitchell from Home How explained to GB News how Crown Estate leases operate, particularly regarding inheritance. "The Crown Estate properties belong to the current monarch, so Royal Lodge is technically King Charles's for the duration of his reign," Mitchell said. "Ownership would then pass to Prince William as he's next in line to the throne."
Mitchell noted that no part of the Crown Estate can be sold, which is why a lease agreement exists for Royal Lodge. Therefore, Prince William, as the heir to the throne, will have the authority to decide who resides in Crown Estate properties in the future.
However, given the lease's stipulation that "named members of his immediate family" will one day occupy Royal Lodge, it is likely that Princess Beatrice and Princess Eugenie will continue to have a connection to the property. The sisters maintain a close relationship with their cousin, Prince William. At Royal Ascot earlier this year, they were seen enjoying time together, and Princess Beatrice even represented the Prince of Wales at an Earthshot Prize event in June.
Reports have suggested that King Charles prefers Prince Andrew to relocate from Royal Lodge to the smaller Frogmore Cottage, previously occupied by Prince Harry and Meghan Markle. When asked about potential tensions between the Duke of York and the monarch, Sarah Ferguson did not deny the possibility, stating, "I tend not to get involved in brothers' discussions and I think that's the best, most safe place to be, is to let the brothers discuss it between themselves."
