New revelations surrounding Prince Andrew’s lease on Royal Lodge have intensified the ongoing standoff between the Duke of York and King Charles III. Recently unredacted Land Registry documents have revealed that Andrew pays “one peppercorn (if demanded) per annum” in rent — a clause previously concealed when the lease was filed 20 years ago, obscuring the true extent of his minimal payment.

The full disclosure shows that the phrase “if demanded” had been omitted in earlier public versions, creating the impression that Andrew paid a regular rent rather than a nominal fee. According to property law experts, this “peppercorn rent” clause effectively means no rent is due unless explicitly requested, making the arrangement almost symbolic. The redactions — reportedly made by Andrew’s representatives were justified as “commercially sensitive,” although such exemptions are generally reserved for corporate contracts, not private leases.

Prince Andrew originally paid £1 million to secure the 75-year lease on Royal Lodge in 2003 and has since invested approximately £7.5 million in renovations. These payments were structured to cover rent upfront until the lease expires in 2078. If Andrew were to vacate early, the Crown Estate could owe him hundreds of thousands of pounds in reimbursement. However, with the Duke no longer receiving a personal allowance from the King and reportedly not inheriting significant funds from the late Queen, questions persist about how he sustains the property’s estimated multi-million-pound annual upkeep.

The tension has escalated as King Charles urges his younger brother to move out of the 30-room mansion within Windsor Great Park, arguing that Andrew should adopt a more modest lifestyle consistent with his current circumstances. Sources close to the King suggest that his concerns stem from Andrew’s long-standing struggle to maintain an opulent lifestyle despite diminished finances and reputation following his association with Jeffrey Epstein.

Prince Andrew, however, insists that he holds a “cast-iron lease” and cannot be legally evicted as long as he complies with its terms. Family friends claim that Andrew and his daughters — Princess Beatrice and Princess Eugenie suspect that Charles plans to allocate Royal Lodge to Queen Camilla as her Windsor residence if she outlives him, echoing past royal precedents. Royal aides deny this claim, maintaining that Camilla prefers her private home, Ray Mill House in Wiltshire, which she purchased in 1995 and continues to use as her sanctuary.

Beyond the property feud, Prince Andrew faces renewed scrutiny over his ties to Epstein. The U.S. House Oversight Committee has reportedly expressed interest in inviting him to provide voluntary testimony regarding the so-called “Epstein files.” Although Andrew cannot be compelled to testify as a foreign citizen, Democratic Congressman Stephen Lynch confirmed that discussions are ongoing.

Further controversy erupted after leaked emails suggested that Andrew attempted to discredit his accuser, Virginia Giuffre, by using his police bodyguard to investigate her background and falsely claim she had criminal convictions. Separate correspondence revealed that Andrew continued to communicate with Epstein months after publicly claiming to have cut ties with him — even writing, “We are in this together.”

Adding to the scandal, new documents allege that Sarah Ferguson, Andrew’s ex-wife, secretly received financial assistance from Epstein for more than 15 years, far exceeding the £15,000 she previously admitted to. Epstein reportedly complained about her “scrounging ways” and boasted that she celebrated his release from jail with her daughters. These findings are among thousands of documents under review by U.S. congressional investigators, expected to be released in redacted form to protect victims’ identities.

Amid the uproar, political leaders are calling for transparency. Sir Keir Starmer has supported a parliamentary inquiry into Andrew’s Royal Lodge arrangement, while Sir Ed Davey of the Liberal Democrats has called for a select committee to question key figures, including Andrew himself. Sir Geoffrey Clifton-Brown, chair of the Commons Public Accounts Committee, confirmed he will write to the Treasury and Crown Estate Commissioners for clarity on the lease’s legality and value. Senior Conservative Robert Jenrick went further, declaring that “the public are sick of him” and that it is “time for Prince Andrew to live privately.”

With legal, financial, and moral questions mounting, the Duke of York’s battle over Royal Lodge has become more than a family feud, it now stands as a test of transparency, accountability, and privilege at the heart of Britain’s monarchy.