New documents appear to show that Prince Andrew's lease for Royal Lodge was edited to hide details about his minimal rental payments for the Windsor estate mansion.
The 30-room property's lease agreement contains strategic redactions that obscure clauses indicating Andrew pays either nothing or a token amount for his residence.
While Prince Andrew was lawfully entitled to withhold the information, these concealed sections have sparked fresh concerns about openness and accountability, particularly given Andrew's position as a member of the Royal Family.
The revelations emerge as political pressure intensifies for greater scrutiny of his housing arrangements, with calls for him to leave the property and submit to parliamentary examination of his living situation becoming increasingly vocal.
Prince Andrew’s Royal Lodge lease appears to conceal rent-free clause
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One particular redaction conceals a critical phrase suggesting the rent is merely symbolic.
The complete text states Andrew must "pay the rent if demanded", but the public document removes the conditional "if demanded" portion, leaving only "to pay the rent".
A source familiar with the matter told the Times: "The redaction would have come from Andrew's representative when they submitted the information rather than anywhere else."
The source added: "Where there is some information that is commercially sensitive, they are able to do that. It's not illegitimate.
Royal Lodge is located on the Windsor Estate | GETTY"But it means the public had no idea how little he was paying. It is obviously nowhere near the commercial rates or even a basic level."
The selective editing suggests Andrew's representatives deliberately removed information showing obscured evidence that his rental obligations fall far short of the market value for such a substantial property.
Property law specialist Mark Loveday from Tanfield Chambers described the practice as highly unusual.
"That is uncommon. I don't think I have ever seen that done, redacting ground rent information from a lease. It is certainly uncommon," he told the publication.
Sarah Ferguson and Prince Andrew divorced in 1996 but continue to live at Royal Lodge | GETTYMr Loveday noted that even security details, typically considered more confidential than financial terms, remain visible in standard property documents submitted to the Land Registry.
Current Land Registry protocols permit redaction of rental information only when it involves commercial entities and could be deemed business-sensitive.
These provisions explicitly exclude private individuals from such exemptions.
The guidelines in effect when Andrew executed the lease in 2003 remain unclear.
The Prime Minister has indicated support for a parliamentary investigation into the prince's residential arrangements following the disclosure that he occupies Royal Lodge without paying rent.
Meanwhile, American legislators are urging Andrew to provide evidence to the House oversight committee examining Jeffrey Epstein's activities.
The congressional committee has been making public various documents concerning the deceased sex offender, who previously maintained close ties with Andrew.
These dual pressures from Westminster and Washington represent an escalation in scrutiny of Andrew's circumstances, with both British and American authorities seeking greater transparency about his connections and living situation.
GB News has contacted Prince Andrew's representatives for comment.