King Charles reportedly used about $2 million from his private funds to cover a major shortfall connected to Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor’s departure from Royal Lodge.
Andrew surrendered the Windsor property’s lease more than 50 years early. Although the agreement entitled him to compensation, repair costs reportedly exceeded the amount he would have received.
King Charles reportedly provides $2 million loan to cover Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor’s Royal Lodge repair costs
The Crown Estate said Andrew qualified for approximately $400,000 in compensation because he surrendered his Royal Lodge lease within its first 25 years.
However, officials also calculated roughly $2.4 million in “dilapidations” costs linked to repairs at the property.
The Crown Estate deducted Andrew’s approximately $400,000 compensation from that amount, leaving a shortfall of about $2 million.
According to the supplied report, King Charles then covered the remaining bill with money from his private income. The payment meant that the Crown Estate did not have to absorb the outstanding costs.
However, the report did not establish whether Charles expected Andrew to repay the money.
It specifically stated that officials had not confirmed whether the payment represented a loan or a gift. Andrew ultimately received no compensation after the amount he was due was applied toward the repair bill.
As The Sun reported, the Crown Estate said Andrew had qualified for compensation under the terms of his lease because he returned it during the first 25 years.
Andrew had lived at Royal Lodge for roughly two decades. The property, valued at around $39.7 million based on the figure provided in the source, included dozens of rooms and sat within Windsor Great Park.
He later left Royal Lodge and moved to Marsh Farm on the Sandringham estate.
The Crown Estate planned to market the Windsor property for its next use. Officials said returning the lease decades early gave them an opportunity to generate additional financial value from the estate sooner than expected.
Charles’ reported $2 million payment remained separate from Andrew’s legal challenge involving Thames Valley Police. Buckingham Palace confirmed that the King was not funding his brother’s legal costs in that matter.
Andrew remained under police investigation and denied wrongdoing.
