Non-working royals Prince and Princess Michael of Kent have their rent for their Kensington Palace apartment covered by the King, as per a recent report. The National Audit Office report indicates that the late Queen’s cousin and his wife are among non-working royals residing in properties inside royal palaces rented out by the Royal Household. The usual practice is to charge approximately 60% of the market value as rent, but the NAO report highlights inconsistencies in the set rates, with the Kents’ property lacking a pre-2026 lease valuation record.
Referred to as the “Rent-a-Kents,” the prince and princess faced scrutiny in 2002 for paying a nominal rent of £69 per week for their grand Apartment 10 at Kensington Palace, maintained by taxpayers, despite not being active royals. Following demands from MPs on the Commons’ Public Accounts Committee to pay full rent, the couple argued that the late Queen gifted them the Palace for their wedding.
Initially, the late Queen covered their rent with a commercial rate of £120,000 annually until 2009, after which they assumed the payment responsibility. However, the recent NAO report reveals that the King now pays their rent from the Privy Purse, continuing the commitment made by the late Queen. The exact post-2009 initiation date of the Privy Purse payments and the current rent amount remain undisclosed, but the rent has surged by 34% from 2020 to 2026 and is now 63% of the 2026 market valuation.
Additionally, the Duke and Duchess of Edinburgh secured a 150-year lease in 2007 for Bagshot Park in Surrey by paying £5 million, with Edward’s company listed as the leaseholder. Edward and Sophie, like Andrew, have authorization to sublet on the estate, generating revenue by renting out the stable complex until 2020.
Princess Alexandra resides in Thatched House Lodge in Richmond Park, paying an annual ground rent of £1,500, which varies over time following a premium payment in 1995. Her daughter has a tenancy on a Windsor Estate cottage, paying an annual rent of £17,436. These revelations emerged from the National Audit Office’s scrutiny of the Royal Family’s property arrangements, prompted by the Public Accounts Committee’s investigation into Crown Estate and royal property arrangements.
The report exposed Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor’s subletting activities at Royal Lodge and raised concerns about the transparency of royal funding. Mr. Baker, author of Royal Mint, National Debt, called for an open parliamentary inquiry into royal funding to address growing support for a republic, particularly among young individuals. The Crown Estate and Royal Household responded to the report, emphasizing adherence to professional advice and market valuations in property agreements with royals.
For more royal updates, readers can join the Royal WhatsApp group or sign up for the Mirror’s Royal newsletter. The article highlights the importance of transparency in royal funding and the need for a comprehensive investigation to address public concerns.