It’s the lease that won’t go away. Pressure is building on Prince Andrew to leave his 30‑room base at Royal Lodge in Windsor after BBC News revealed he has only ever paid a token “peppercorn” rent under a 75‑year agreement with the Crown Estate. Options long whispered in palace circles - Frogmore Cottage and Adelaide Cottage - are back in play, though the palace hasn’t commented and Andrew denies any wrongdoing linked to his past associations.

The scrutiny has sharpened since he gave up using his titles earlier this month, a move welcomed by ministers as the “right course of action”. At the same time, fresh allegations in Virginia Giuffre’s posthumously published memoir have reignited questions about his judgement and finances. Andrew has always strenuously denied abusing Ms Giuffre.

What the paperwork says matters. BBC News reports the lease describes the rent as a “peppercorn (if demanded)”, with Andrew making large up‑front payments including renovations totalling around £8m in 2003–05. The document also sets out upkeep obligations and even small print on what can and can’t happen at the house. A compensation clause applies if the lease is surrendered before the 25‑year mark in 2028.

Calls for scrutiny are now cutting through Westminster chatter. Liberal Democrat leader Sir Ed Davey says Andrew “should give evidence to a parliamentary committee” on the lease, while Downing Street has refused to find Commons time for a debate - a stance that has only fuelled demands for answers. Committee routes remain open if MPs choose to use them.

If the King’s brother wants somewhere discreet, Frogmore Cottage fits the brief. Tucked away near Frogmore House inside Windsor’s security cordon, it offers privacy and proximity to family. It was Harry and Meghan’s UK base until they were asked to vacate in 2023, and reports at the time suggested Frogmore had been offered to Andrew. The cottage has a long backstory, from Queen Charlotte’s era to a stint housing exiled Romanov relatives.

Adelaide Cottage, a modest four‑bed place a short walk away, is also on the list. The Prince and Princess of Wales are relocating to Forest Lodge in Windsor Great Park, freeing Adelaide up. The house has royal history - Group Captain Peter Townsend once lived there - but by Windsor standards it’s a downsizing that would keep Andrew close to his daughters and grandchildren.

Tabloid chatter has claimed Andrew is willing to leave Royal Lodge if he gets Frogmore and his ex‑wife Sarah Ferguson gets Adelaide. The Independent has reported that Ferguson’s camp denies making any such “demands”, stressing these options were raised by the palace months ago. Either way, both cottages would keep the pair near each other without sharing a roof.

Further afield, Wood Farm on the Sandringham estate is a quiet, workable fallback. It’s smaller, shielded from cameras and strongly associated with the late Duke of Edinburgh, who based himself there after retiring in 2017. By any measure it would be a significant downsizing from Royal Lodge - but it is private and practical.

Scotland presents other options. Craigowan Lodge at Balmoral has been floated in the press, while the Castle of Mey in Caithness - revived by the Queen Mother and now run as a visitor attraction in summer - has space outside peak months. Both would take Andrew far from Windsor and the grandchildren he sees nearby.

There’s even talk of a gilded bolt‑hole overseas. The Sun, echoed by other outlets, claims Abu Dhabi’s ruler has offered Andrew the use of a palace with six bedrooms and a pool; neither Buckingham Palace nor Andrew’s camp has confirmed it. The prince’s past ties in the Gulf - including visits to the UAE and long‑standing links to Bahrain - are well‑documented. Treat this option as rumour until proven.

Why it matters up North is straightforward: the Crown Estate’s record offshore wind income, much of it in the North Sea supply chain that runs through the Humber and Tees, helps set the Sovereign Grant. In 2023, HM Treasury cut the grant’s percentage to 12% so more of that windfall stayed with public services - a reminder that public money and royal estates are never far apart in this debate.

What happens next will be decided quietly, but the direction is clear. The lease has become a lightning rod for questions about fairness, accountability and costs. If Andrew does move, Windsor’s smaller cottages keep him close to family and inside the security perimeter - and draw a line under a row the palace plainly wants to close.