Prince Andrew has barely paid any rent on Royal Lodge in more than 20 years

Prince Andrew has given up use of his royal titles and honours amid intensified focus on his links with paedophile financier Jeffrey Epstein, an announcement that has raised many questions

Prince Andrew has paid a “peppercorn rent” on Royal Lodge for more than 20 years, it has emerged this morning.

The prince signed a 75-year lease on the property in 2003 but has since then he has paid “one peppercorn” of rent “if demanded” per year, the leasehold agreement states. A copy of this, seen by the Press Association, shows Andrew paid £1 million for the long lease on the 30-bedroom mansion in 2003.

His decision to give up use of his royal titles and honours amid intensified focus on his links with paedophile financier Jeffrey Epstein has raised questions, including whether Andrew should have the right to continue living at the Royal Lodge mansion in Windsor.

But the new information also highlights the Crown Estate would have to pay Andrew around £558,000 if he gave up the lease. This is due to a clause in the “cast iron” leasehold agreement, not set to expire until 2078.

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Andrew is not believed to have received any significant inheritance from the Queen or Queen Mother, according to the Daily Mail. This raised further questions about how he can afford to stay in the property – particularly when he now receives no personal allowance from the King, or public funding.

But it has now emerged the dad of two has paid barely any rent since 2003. The Crown Estate, which oversees the royal family’s land and property holdings, shared a copy of the leasehold agreement to reporters last night.

Asked whether the King’s brother should be allowed to keep living at the property, children and families minister Josh MacAlister told Times Radio on Monday morning: “You’ll understand why a Government minister isn’t going to get into second guessing what Buckingham Palace and the King may decide. I imagine over the course of this week there may be lots of questions about arrangements for Prince Andrew.”

Andrew vehemently denies the allegations Virginia Giuffre was forced to have sex with him three times after being trafficked by Epstein.

Ms Giuffre’s posthumous memoirs are set to be released today. The co-author of Nobody’s Girl, Amy Wallace, told BBC Newsnight that she could speak for Ms Giuffre on the subject of Andrew stopping using his titles.

She said: “I know that she would view it as a victory that he was forced by whatever means to voluntarily give them up. For many, maybe particularly in the United States, but maybe even in the UK, it’s a symbolic gesture but it’s an important one.

“It’s made history, modern history, in terms of the royal era. I mean I’ve never heard of such a thing happening and it also is just a step in the right direction.

“Virginia wanted all the men who she’d been trafficked to against her will to be held to account and this is just one of the men but… even though he continues to deny it his life is being eroded because of his past behaviour as it should be.”