Liberal Democrat leader Sir Ed Davey has called for Prince Andrew to appear before Members of Parliament to provide evidence regarding his lease of Royal Lodge. This request emerges amid broader appeals for increased transparency concerning royal finances and the independently managed Crown Estate, which oversees the property.
The lease arrangement for Royal Lodge involved Prince Andrew making substantial upfront payments, including contributions for renovations, in place of annual rent. Baroness Margaret Hodge, former chair of the Public Accounts Committee, criticized the agreement as a "rotten deal," asserting the Crown Estate's obligation to maximize income for taxpayers. The article notes that the King ceased financial support for Prince Andrew last year, a decision made following heightened public scrutiny over Prince Andrew's associations with convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein, allegations Prince Andrew has consistently denied.
Source: https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/c0exgrgd9w2o?at_medium=RSS&at_campaign=rss