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Tag: Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor

  • Watch: Andrew faces New Police Investigation

    Watch: Andrew faces New Police Investigation

    Former Prince Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor faces a fresh police probe as officers investigate allegations that Jeffrey Epstein trafficked women to the royal Scottish residence, Balmoral. 

    Police Scotland has confirmed enquiries into stays at the King’s Highlands estate by the late convicted paedophile and his former girlfriend Ghislaine Maxwell, who is in jail in the US. 

    Police Scotland said: ‘We have received information and active enquiries are ongoing, but these are at a very early stage.

    ‘All enquiries are evidence led, with the needs of victim survivors at the heart of those enquiries.

    ‘We would never confirm details of ongoing enquiries and it would be inappropriate to comment further.’

    Forces including Thames Valley Police, the Metropolitan Police and Surrey Police have live investigations linked to the release of the Epstein files, the National Police Chiefs’ Council (NPCC) confirmed.

    The NPCC said: ‘Identifying any further potential offending, suspects, victims or witnesses is a complex process and will take time, but UK policing remains committed to carrying out a meticulous assessment of the material released by the US Department of Justice.’

    Andrew and Maxwell are said to have flown to Balmoral in 2006 on a private jet owned by Epstein.  Epstein and Maxwell were reportedly regular guests at royal residences in the late 1990s and early 2000s.

    The Daily Express reported that the inquiries related to claims that women were trafficked to the estate.

    Andrew denies any wrongdoing.

    Pictures previously released by the Department of Justice in the US appeared to show Andrew and Epstein on a shooting trip on the grounds of the sprawling residence.

    Located in the Scottish Highlands, Balmoral Castle has belonged to the Royal Family since 1852 when Queen Victoria and Prince Albert acquired the estate.

    The castle has been described as “a treasured retreat for the Royal Family” and was where Queen Elizabeth II died at the age of 96 in 2022.

  • Watch: Andrew handed huge compensation payout

    Watch: Andrew handed huge compensation payout

    Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor has been awarded £302,000 in compensation after finally surrendering the lease on his sprawling Royal Lodge mansion — but a hefty repair bill means he is still facing a multimillion-pound cost.

    The former Duke of York gave up the keys to the 30-room Windsor property after years of controversy surrounding his links to convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein.

    But the financial details of his departure have now emerged, revealing that Andrew was entitled to compensation for handing back the property more than 50 years before his 75-year lease was due to expire.

    The Crown Estate confirmed that the £302,000 payment was offset against a £1.8million bill for repairs and restoration work.

    That leaves the estate with a net payment of around £1.5million from Andrew.

    £300,000 Payout Despite Crumbling Mansion

    Andrew signed the lease on Royal Lodge in 2003, committing to spend £7.5million renovating the property in exchange for a £1million upfront payment and a nominal rent.

    The agreement included a clause allowing him to receive compensation if he surrendered the lease within its first 25 years.

    However, the condition of the estate became a major financial issue when the property was handed back.

    The £1.8million repair bill covered work required to return the property in line with the terms of the lease, with the compensation reducing the amount Andrew ultimately owed.

    The Crown Estate said the lease had now ended and its focus was on finding a future use for the property that would generate additional financial value for the nation.

    Royal Lodge Departure Follows Years of Controversy

    Andrew’s departure from the mansion followed mounting public pressure over his association with Epstein and the revelations contained in documents relating to the late financier.

    King Charles stripped his brother of his royal titles last year and ordered him to leave the Windsor residence.

    Andrew moved to the Sandringham Estate in Norfolk earlier this year, bringing an end to his long stay at Royal Lodge.

    His continued occupation of the property had attracted scrutiny, particularly over the nominal rent he paid and questions about his financial arrangements.

    Fresh Questions Over Royal Property Deal

    The financial details have also renewed interest in the terms of Andrew’s original lease.

    A National Audit Office investigation published in June revealed that he had received undisclosed private income from subletting three cottages on the Royal Lodge estate while paying a peppercorn rent.

    The arrangement raised questions about how royal residential properties are managed and the financial benefits available to their occupants.

    The Crown Estate is now considering the future of Royal Lodge, with the property expected to be marketed for a proposed new use.

    For Andrew, the final figures tell a complicated story: although he qualified for £302,000 in compensation for ending his lease early, the substantial repair costs meant the payment did not translate into a financial windfall.

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