King Charles III Pays £1.5 Million Bill for Andrew's Former Royal Lodge Estate From Private Funds
British tabloid The Sun reports that King Charles III covered a £1.5 million bill for the deterioration of Royal Lodge in Windsor, the former home of ex-prince Andrew. It is unclear whether the money is a loan or a gift.
King Charles III of the United Kingdom has paid £1.5 million from his private income to cover a bill owed by his brother, the former prince Andrew, over the repair and restoration of the Royal Lodge estate in Windsor, according to the British tabloid The Sun. The report matters because it indicates that the cost of the property Andrew left is being met from the king's personal funds rather than going unpaid.
How the sum was reached
According to a statement from the Crown Estate, the body that manages state-owned property, Andrew was required to pay about £1.8 million for the building's deterioration after his lease ended early. He was in turn owed roughly £302,000 in compensation, because the 75-year lease was handed back more than 50 years ahead of schedule. That amount was deducted from the repair bill, leaving a net figure of £1.5 million.
The king transferred the money from his private income so that the Crown Estate's bill would not be left unpaid. The Sun notes that it is unclear whether the payment is a loan or a gift, or whether Andrew will be able to repay it.
What happens next
Andrew has already left the 30-room estate. He now lives at Marsh Farm on the Sandringham estate, which belongs to the king. The lease has formally ended, and the Crown Estate intends to look for a new use for the property in order to generate additional income for the state.
