Royal arrangements involving the Crown Estate and members of the Royal Family should be subject to further scrutiny following the controversy surrounding Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor’s Royal Lodge lease, a royal commentator has told GB News.
Richard Fitzwilliams told the People's Channel that public perception had been damaged by the handling of arrangements linked to the former Duke of York.
He added that this was the case particularly amid criticism of peppercorn rent leases and subletting provisions.
The author's comments come as a National Audit Office report examined how royal residences are allocated, leased and funded across both Crown Estate and Royal Household property portfolios.
The NAO found that Mr Mountbatten-Windsor cashed in on the Royal Lodge estate by subletting three cottages while only paying peppercorn rent on the residence himself.
The report also uncovered that King Charles covers the accommodation costs for Princess Beatrice and Princess Eugenie, despite neither of his nieces carrying out official royal duties.
According to the public spending watchdog, arrangements vary significantly depending on whether properties are held by working royals, non-working royals or staff.
In addition, they vary whether accommodation is provided within occupied royal Palaces or on Crown Estate land.
Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor's lease row should lead to 'further investigation', a commentator has claimed
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The report also confirmed that lease agreements are based on independent valuation advice and negotiated at market-related levels, though public scrutiny has intensified over perceived inconsistencies.
Mr Fitzwilliams said the Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor case had shaped wider perceptions of royal property arrangements.
He told GB News: “Because of the publicity given to the arrangement with Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor, where a lump sum was followed by a ‘peppercorn rent’, the perception was that the taxpayer was not getting the value for money they should.”
Mr Fitzwilliams added that the way Crown Estate properties occupied by royals are handled “should be further investigated”.
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An aerial view of Royal Lodge in Windsor | REUTERSIn a statement responding to the NAO report, Buckingham Palace said it was “grateful” for the review and described it as consistent with the Royal Household’s commitment to transparency.
A spokesman added that arrangements vary depending on “a number of factors”, including location, tenants and purpose, in order to ensure properties are allocated appropriately.
A spokeswoman for the Crown Estate said leases are agreed “in line with independent, professional advice and open market valuations”.
The NAO report is expected to be scrutinised further by the Public Accounts Committee.
Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor and King Charles at the Duchess of Kent's funeral | GETTYIt also highlighted the complexity of the system, noting differences between Crown Estate properties, Palace residences and staff accommodation.
Mr Fitzwilliams said the issue is unlikely to disappear, given ongoing public interest in how royal property arrangements are structured and funded.
He suggested that greater clarity may be needed to restore confidence in how royal housing decisions are made.