Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor is unlikely to move abroad after being ousted from Royal Lodge, a royal commentator has claimed.
Andrew was stripped of his royal titles and handed notice on lease for his 30-room mansion in October last year, due to his links with convicted paedophile Jeffrey Epstein.
Reports had claimed that Andrew was looking to head abroad to remove himself from the public eye, but a commentator believes there will be one major sticking point should he opt to do so.
Former BBC royal correspondent Jennie Bond stated: “Andrew certainly does seem to have friends in high places in the Middle East and his life there wouldn't be short on luxury.
Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor is unlikely to leave the UK due to his family
|GETTY
“But it could also be very lonely. Andrew does still have his family, including his grandchildren, so I think it's unlikely that he would want to move abroad permanently.
“Being 'banished' to Sandringham doesn't strike me as too tough an existence. He will be given a house, no doubt some staff, security and a life of leisure in a beautiful part of the country.
“It would probably be easier for the rest of the royal family if Andrew disappeared to somewhere like the Middle East – especially as the Epstein revelations continue to drip their poison," she concluded to the Mirror.
It was recently revealed that Royal Lodge had not been inspected during his 22-year lease.
The lease included unique terms, which included not paying rent but instead a costly upfront refurbishment cost and an upkeep schedule.
He paid £8million to repair the property when he moved in, and agreed to allow inspectors in at “all reasonable times” to make sure the royal residence was looked after.
Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor did not have his Royal Lodge mansion inspetced during his 22-year tenancy
|GETTY
In return for meeting these agreements, his Crown Estate landlord, the independent company which manages Crown properties for the benefit of the taxpayer, allowed him to pay no rent for the duration of his 75-year lease.
However, it has now been revealed by a freedom of information request that not one inspection occurred during his 22-year tenancy.
His lease states that he must paint the interior of the property every seven years and maintain the good standard of the grounds and the gardens.
LATEST ROYAL NEWS
The strict rules specified that he was not able to alter Royal Lodge by adding new walls, fences, gates or windows.
The lease specified that Crown Estate officials had the right to enter the property to confirm the rules had been followed if they gave “reasonable notice”.
The lack of inspections were revealed in the freedom of information request by the Daily Mail, just a month after the chief executive of the Crown Estate wrote a briefing to the House of Commons Public Accounts Committee stating visits were carried out on a “need-only” basis.
The former Duke of York is set to lose out on almost £500,000 due repairs needed to Royal Lodge | PAIt revealed that it was “common industry practice” due to the fact that Andrew had the right to the quiet use and enjoyment of the property and the landlord’s reversion was several decades away.
It further explained that inspections are carried out only when needed to ensure the “effective use of public money”.
Our Standards: The GB News Editorial Charter