Princesses Beatrice and Eugenie’s housing arrangements may come under renewed scrutiny, with a royal commentator telling GB News that “non-working royals should not receive perks” and suggesting current arrangements may not continue.
Richard Fitzwilliams said the structure of accommodation for non-working members of the Royal Family was increasingly likely to be questioned as public expectations around royal funding evolve.
He said: “Current arrangements where Beatrice has the use of an apartment in St James's Palace and Eugenie Ivy Cottage in Kensington Palace may not be continued.
“Non-working royals should not receive perks.”
His comments come as a National Audit Office report sets out how royal accommodation is allocated across Crown Estate leases and properties managed by the Royal Household, with different arrangements depending on whether members of the Royal Family are working royals, non-working royals, or staff.
The report confirms that 11 working members of the Royal Family occupy seven residences within St James’s Palace and Kensington Palace at no cost in return for carrying out official duties.
By contrast, three properties within occupied royal Palaces are rented to non-working members of the Royal Family under Household policy.
These are charged at an adjusted rate typically set at around 60 per cent of open market value.
Beatrice and Eugenie's housing arrangements are facing mounting scrutiny
|GETTY
The NAO states that these rents are currently paid via the Privy Purse, the Sovereign’s private income.
The report does not publish individual tenancy agreements for named royals but confirms that non-working members of the Royal Family fall within this category of accommodation arrangement.
However, detailed figures included in the NAO report set out how rental levels within this category have changed over time as valuations have been updated.
For Princess Eugenie, rent was set at 50 per cent of 2018 market value in 2020 and 2021, rising to 55 per cent in 2022, 60 per cent in 2023, 63 per cent in 2024, and reaching 64 per cent by 2026.
LATEST ROYAL DEVELOPMENTS
St James' Palace located in central London, where Princess Beatrice has an apartment | PAFor Princess Beatrice, rent was paid at 60 per cent of 2020 market value in 2020 and 2021, before increasing to 68 per cent by 2026.
The NAO also notes that while a 60 per cent benchmark is used as a general guide under Household policy, it has not always been applied consistently across all arrangements.
It says rental costs depend on a range of factors including the tenant’s role within the Royal Family, whether accommodation is required for official duties, and whether the property is located within a secure area of the occupied royal Palaces.
Palace sources have stressed that the arrangement for the Privy Purse to meet the cost of Beatrice and Eugenie’s rent was established under the reign of the late Queen Elizabeth II and continues under King Charles.
They added that the costs are met from the King’s private income at his discretion, and that rental levels are typically guided at around 60 per cent of open market value, reflecting constraints on palace accommodation.
Insiders further noted that rent is based on the property being leased rather than the individual occupying it, and that rents have been paid at or above the 60 per cent guide level since the King’s accession in 2023.
GB News also understands that Princess Eugenie has undertaken refurbishment work at her own expense.
A Buckingham Palace spokesman said: “We are grateful to the National Audit Office for this report, which is in line with The Royal Household’s commitment to transparency.
"We hope that the findings will help correct, clarify or contextualise a number of points regarding Royal properties.
“As the report notes, arrangements for properties managed by the Royal Household vary based on a number of factors to ensure residences are filled appropriately, depending on their location, tenants and purpose.”
A Crown Estate spokeswoman added: "The Crown Estate welcomes the National Audit Office's review which confirms its leases with members of the royal family were agreed in line with independent, professional advice and open market valuations."