British MPs will investigate the royal family's property portfolio, after revelations that Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor — Queen Elizabeth II's second son — had not paid rent for two decades sparked outrage.
Parliament's Public Accounts Committee (PAC) on Tuesday, local time, announced it would launch an inquiry in the new year into The Crown Estate, a private company, which among many interests holds several residential leases with members of the royal family.
Mr Mountbatten-Windsor, a brother to King Charles III, was stripped of his royal titles this year, amid fresh accusations relating to his friendship with convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein.
He is also being kicked out of the 30-room mansion he's lived in since 2003, Royal Lodge.
British media have since savaged the fact Mr Mountbatten-Windsor had been living in the property almost rent-free, although he did pay £8.5 million ($20.8 million at the time) up-front for renovations.
'Basis for an inquiry'
PAC chair Sir Geoffrey Clifton-Brown wrote to the Crown Estate seeking further information about the lease arrangements for Royal Lodge in October.
The organisation replied in November.
"Having reflected on what we have received, the information provided clearly forms the beginnings of a basis for an inquiry," Sir Geoffrey said in a statement on Tuesday.
The Crown Estate is one of the largest holders of property in the UK.
While it is technically owned by the monarch, it is an independent business, and its profits are passed to the UK's Treasury.
The Treasury in turn pays the monarch an annual Sovereign Grant — money which allows them to perform official duties.
The Crown Estate handles multiple leases for members of the royal family, including Prince William and Princess Catherine, who reside in the eight-bedroom Forest Lodge, in Windsor.
The company's response to Sir Geoffrey's letter has been made public and revealed that not everyone's deal was as generous as Mr Mountbatten-Windsor's.
Prince Edward, another of the King's brothers, signed a 50-year lease in 1998 to live at Bagshot Park, a 120-room property near Windsor, for an initially annual price of £90,000, which has since been renegotiated.
Princess Alexandra, a first cousin to the late Queen Elizabeth II, signed a 70-year lease in 1971 for a large property in Richmond Park, named Thatched House Lodge, which included an annual rent of £410 for the first 35 years and £700 for the second 35.
Meanwhile, Mr Mountbatten-Windsor, a former prince, has been described as a close friend of Epstein's between 1999 and 2008.
Virginia Giuffre, who died by suicide in Western Australia earlier this year, had alleged she was trafficked by Epstein to Mr Mountbatten-Windsor as a teenager, and that the then-Duke of York had sexually abused her.
He denies any wrongdoing.
He stepped back from royal duties in 2019 amid a deluge of public pressure, after a disastrous interview with the BBC's Newsnight program, in which he maintained his innocence in the face of those allegations.
Last month, Ms Giuffre's posthumously released memoir went on sale.
In it, she alleged Mr Mountbatten-Windsor "believed having sex with me was his birthright".
She claimed she met the former prince on multiple occasions, including at an orgy on Epstein's private island.
