Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor released by police

The former Duke of York now lives in Wood Farm on the Sandringham Estate, but until recently, he leased a separate property owned by the Crown Estate

ndrew Mountbatten-Windsor has quietly given up the lease on a second Crown Estate property – weeks after being exiled from Royal Lodge.

The former Duke of York, 66, is now living in Wood Farm on the Sandringham Estate while his permanent property, Marsh Farm, is being renovated. He had lived in Royal Lodge in Windsor for nearly two decades, despite only paying “peppercorn rent”, but was forced to surrender it after being stripped of his remaining titles last October.

Andrew has now asked to also end his lease on the £13,000-per-year East Lodge near Berkshire’s Sunninghill Park. The Grade II-listed cottage is around five miles from Windsor, where the Prince and Princess of Wales live with their family.

The thatched cottage is believed to have been used for staff accommodation, with Andrew only living there for a brief period before moving to Royal Lodge.

He initially signed the lease in February 1998, paying £3,500 annually to the Crown Estate, rising to £12,922 last year. However, the average property price in the area is £7,500 per month. The tenancy was due to end in July 2027, but has now been terminated early, according to a Freedom of Information request obtained by the BBC.

East Lodge© Google
East Lodge

How does the Crown Estate work?

The Crown Estate is an independent commercial business and manages some of the most important royal properties. Contrary to popular belief, they are not the private property of the King, but are “hereditary possessions of the Sovereign held ‘in right of the crown’”.

Andrew and Sarah in formal attire© Getty Images
Andrew and his ex-wife Sarah Ferguson

They belong to the Sovereign for the duration of their reign, but the monarch cannot sell them or receive revenues from them. The Crown Estate was established by an Act of Parliament in 1961. It has an obligation to get the best value for the public.

Andrew’s properties

Andrew previously lived in Royal Lodge, a Grade II-listed property in Windsor with 30 rooms and 21 acres of grounds. It sits on a wider 98-acre estate, making it one of the larger royal residences.

Royal Lodge pictured in the 1930s© Getty Images
Royal Lodge pictured in the 1930s

However, it fell into a state of disrepair during the former Duke’s tenancy, and its upkeep was not properly funded.

Andrew had previously lived in East Lodge near Sunninghill Park before moving to Royal Lodge. The Berkshire estate was a wedding gift from his mother, the late Queen, when he married Sarah Ferguson in 1986. Andrew left Royal Lodge last month amid the fallout concerning his ties to the convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein.