By Katherine Tinsley
11:30am PST, Jan 13, 2026
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Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor's friendship with
Jeffrey Epstein and sexual assault allegations resulted in him being kicked out of Royal Lodge.
"[This] would only have been possible while the lease remained in place," property expert
Elliot Castle told
Daily Express. "Once that lease is surrendered or terminated, there is nothing to pass on. From a property standpoint, that closes the door entirely.
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"Royal Lodge would revert fully to the Crown Estate, with no residual claim for Andrew or his daughters," Elliot Castle continued.
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While Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor never formally owned Royal Lodge, there were rumors that the ex-royal hoped Princess Eugenie and Princess Beatrice would take over his lease.
"The key point here is that Royal Lodge is not just a home — it's a valuable long-term leasehold asset," Elliot Castle said. "Initiating a formal process to remove Andrew earlier than expected effectively strips away the remaining financial and practical value of that lease."
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"Reports suggesting a loss of around £500,000 ($671,519) reflect not just moving costs, but the loss of a heavily invested, long-term residential interest that would otherwise have remained in place for decades," Elliot Castle continued.
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Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor isn't just losing his royal estate — but the protection it offered.
"Royal Lodge offered security, status and a long lease that justified significant personal investment," Elliot Castle said. "Losing that arrangement early inevitably results in sunk costs that can't be recovered."
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"From a property expert's point of view, it's the difference between owning a long lease on a premium home and occupying accommodation at the discretion of someone else," Elliot Castle concluded.
