Headline: King Charles Pays £1.5m Repair Bill for Andrew's Former Royal Lodge Home

Date: 9 October 2026

Tags: Royal Family, UK News, Finance, Crown Estate

Summary:

- King Charles has paid £1.5m to cover repairs owed by Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor following his departure from Royal Lodge.

- The payment reportedly comes from the King's private income rather than public funds.

- The original £1.8m repair bill was reduced by £300,000 owed to Andrew for surrendering his lease early.

- The Crown Estate confirmed it received the £1.5m payment and paid Andrew nothing when his lease ended.

- Andrew left the 30-room Windsor mansion in February 2026 following renewed scrutiny of his connections to Jeffrey Epstein.

- Andrew has consistently denied wrongdoing in relation to Epstein.

- He was arrested in February on suspicion of misconduct in public office, with a court later criticising police search warrants.

- Andrew originally secured a 75-year lease in 2003 after making substantial upfront payments, including approximately £7.5m for repairs.

- King Charles is also privately funding Andrew's accommodation and upkeep at Sandringham, but not his legal expenses.

- The Crown Estate expects Royal Lodge to generate commercial income, with no current plans for another royal resident.

Why this matters: The payment raises questions about Andrew's financial circumstances and the King's continued private financial support for his brother. It also ensures the Crown Estate receives the money owed for repairs to the property.

What’s next: The Crown Estate will consider how to use Royal Lodge commercially to generate financial returns. It remains unclear whether Andrew will repay King Charles the £1.5m or what the property's future use will be.