Overview
- Daily negotiations with King Charles’ representatives are focused on a voluntary exit because the 75‑year lease is described as cast iron and prevents forced eviction.
- The full lease, published this week, shows a nominal rent of “one peppercorn (if demanded)” since 2003, after an upfront £1 million lease payment and at least £7.5 million in refurbishments.
- Key sticking points include compensation for Andrew’s investment and the lease’s refund schedule, with about £557,596 due if he surrenders before next June, declining annually until 2028.
- Relocation options under discussion include homes on the King’s private estates such as Sandringham or Balmoral, while Andrew is said to prefer staying in London or Windsor near his daughters.
- Officials have assured Princesses Beatrice and Eugenie that their residences at St James’s Palace and Kensington Palace are secure, as Parliament and the Public Accounts Committee seek further details on the lease.