Sir Keir Starmer has backed a call for a Commons investigation into Prince Andrew’s housing arrangement.
The King’s brother is still living in the Royal Lodge, a 30-room Windsor mansion owned by the Crown Estate, despite relinquishing his Duke of York title last week.
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It has emerged he only pays a “peppercorn rent” on the property – a legal term used in leases to show that rent technically exists, so the lease is valid, but it’s nominal – often £1 a year or even nothing at all.
Liberal Democrat leader Sir Ed Davey has called for a select committee inquiry into the Crown Estate, in which Prince Andrew would be called to give evidence.
Speaking in Prime Minister’s Questions, Sir Ed said: “Given the revelations about Royal Lodge, does the prime minister agree that this House needs to properly scrutinise the Crown Estate to ensure taxpayers’ interests are protected.
“The chancellor herself has said that the current arrangements are wrong.
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“So will the prime minister support a select committee inquiry, so all those involved can be called for evidence, including the current occupant?”
Responding, Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer said: “It’s important in relation to all Crown properties that there is proper scrutiny, and I certainly support that.”
A document from the Crown Estate, which oversees the Royal Family’s land and property holdings, shows Andrew signed a 75-year lease on the Royal Lodge in 2003.
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It reveals he paid £1m for the lease and that since then he has paid “one peppercorn” of rent “if demanded” per year.
Andrew was also required to pay a further £7.5m for refurbishments completed in 2005, according to a report by the National Audit Office.
The agreement also contains a clause that states the Crown Estate would have to pay Andrew around £558,000 if he gave up the lease.
The royal is under pressure to do just that amid continued scrutiny over his relationship with paedophile financier Jeffrey Epstein.
There has also been fresh focus on his sex accuser Virginia Giuffre’s allegations, which Andrew denies, after the publication of her posthumous memoirs.
Senior Tory Robert Jenrick said it was “about time Prince Andrew took himself off to live in private” as “the public are sick of him”.
Asked about his living arrangement on Tuesday, Chancellor Rachel Reeves told the BBC: “I do think people should pay their way and pay their fair share.”
