Prince William is set to “do things differently” when he becomes King by cracking down on the way the Royal Family handles its vast property portfolio.
The Prince of Wales, 43, will reportedly consider banning longtime royal property practices like sub-letting of homes, when he takes the throne, and could stop those who don’t participate in official duties from living rent-free in palaces. The moves form part of a planned major review of his family’s living arrangements reminiscient of some of the first steps taken by King Charles III during his own reign.
Under William, they will be a priority, after a report last week revealed his uncle, Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor, was sub letting three cottages on his former Windsor home while paying a “peppercorn rent”.
View 4 ImagesFormer Prince Andrew was sub letting three cottages on the Windsor estate where he lived(Image: Jordan Pettitt/PA Wire)
The early picture of his future reign, reported by The Times, is said to be a priority for the Prince, who last week spent time touring pubs and put 600-acres of royal farmland up for sale. Sources close to him told the publication he wants “look under the hood” of royal operations to ensure the institution is “fit for purpose in the modern era”.
He is said to be especially conscious of how the public percieves the family’s non-working members, who continue to live in properties under favourable terms.
The news follows a report from the National Audit Office (NAO) which revealed disgraced former Prince Andrew was pocketing income from three rental cottages while staying at the Royal Lodge in Windsor. He was at the time paying a “peppercorn rent” at his own property.
View 4 ImagesBeatrice and Eugenie were also living in subsidised properties at St James’s Palace and Kensington Palace(Image: Dave Benett/Getty Images)
The former Prince paid £7.5 million for repairs when he took over the Royal Lodge lease in August 2003, and was not required to pay a monthly rent. The NAO said in its report, the first in 20 years, that Windsor and his family and staff had 12 properties, each owned by the Crown Estate or Royal Household.
The report also revealed that the King pays rent for accommodation in royal palaces for his neices, Princesses Beatrice and Eugenie, neither of whom are working royals.
The two princesses have properties in St James’s Palace and Kensington Palace respectively, it added, with payments for the two coming from the King’s personal “privy purse”. Both palaces are maintained through the Sovereign Grant, money paid to the royals from the public purse.
View 4 ImagesThe NAO report has ignited calls for an investigation into the royal finances(Image: POOL/AFP via Getty Images)
In total, the report found that the Royal Household, which is funded through the grant, furnishes 11 working members of the Royal Family with seven residences at no cost – in exchange for their duty work.
A spokesperson for the Palace said it was “grateful” after the report was released, saying it was “in line with the Royal Household’s commitment to transparency”. The spokesperson added: “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.”