On Thursday, Britain’s National Audit Office released a report about royal residences and how much it costs the British taxpayer to lavishly house all of these royals and royal-adjacents. There are several storylines, but one of the biggest and loudest is that Princess Beatrice and Princess Eugenie have never paid any kind of rent on their London homes. Since both women were in their early 20s, they’ve had London homes – Eugenie in Ivy Cottage (in the Kensington Palace complex) and Beatrice in a St. James’s Palace apartment. All of this time, and neither of them has paid a dime.
Princesses Beatrice and Eugenie have been living in royal palaces for free with the King personally paying their rent for years – despite carrying out no royal duties. Princess Eugenie, 36, lives at Ivy Cottage in Kensington Palace and Princess Beatrice, 37, has an apartment in St James’s Palace.
A report by public spending watchdog the National Audit Office unearthed some of the cosy deals that working – and non-working – royals have benefited from when it comes to housing. The findings also revealed that both princesses also benefited from reduced rental rates from old market valuations. Neither of them are a working royal and neither receives funding through the Sovereign Grant, which is paid from Crown Estate profits.
Instead, their rent is covered entirely by Charles through the Privy Purse, funded by income from the Duchy of Lancaster.
Until this year, Eugenie’s rent was based on a 2018 valuation, while Beatrice’s was based on a 2020 valuation.
The Royalist had some additional details – Beatrice’s rent for her four-bedroom SJP apartment was apparently held at £20K a year, which was entirely paid for by the monarch via the Duchy of Lancaster. Same with Eugenie and Ivy Cottage, although those KP cottages are almost always “rent-free” – they’re given out as “grace-and-favor” homes to senior staff and minor royals. I don’t believe Prince Harry paid any rent on Nottingham Cottage either. It feels like Beatrice’s SJP apartment is more egregious, especially because that apartment is apparently quite spacious. While it’s a “scandal” that Beatrice and Eugenie were living rent-free – or that Charles was “paying” their meager rent himself – it’s also a huge scandal that there are so many empty royal apartments and cottages in London. Like… I don’t think most people actually care that Beatrice and Eugenie have homes on royal property, it’s that they’re not really paying for those homes.
Photos courtesy of Avalon Red, Cover Images.
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North America Rights Only – London, UK -20220329-
Service of Thanksgiving for the life of Prince Philip at Westminster Abbey
-PICTURED: Princess Beatrice, Edoardo Mapelli Mozzi, Princess Eugenie, Jack Brooksbank
-PHOTO by: PA Images/INSTARimages.comDisclaimer:
This is an editorial, rights-managed image. Please contact INSTAR Images for licensing fee and rights information at sales@instarimages.com or call +1 212 414 0207. This image may not be published in any way that is, or might be deemed to be, defamatory, libelous, pornographic, or obscene. Please consult our sales department for any clarification needed prior to publication and use. INSTAR Images reserves the right to pursue unauthorized users of this material. If you are in violation of our intellectual property rights or copyright you may be liable for damages, loss of income, any profits you derive from the unauthorized use of this material and, where appropriate, the cost of collection and/or any statutory damages awarded
For images containing underage children: Be advised that some Countries may have restricted privacy laws against publishing images of underage children. Inform yourself! Underage children may need to be removed or have their face pixelated before publishingFeaturing: Princess Beatrice, Edoardo Mapelli Mozzi, Princess Eugenie, Jack
Where: London, England, United Kingdom
When: 29 Mar 2022
Credit: PA Images/INSTARimages.com**North America Rights Only**
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Princess Beatrice and Princess Eugenie
The State Funeral of Her Majesty The Queen, Service, Westminster Abbey, London, UK – 19 Sep 2022,Image: 724168922, License: Rights-managed, Restrictions: , Model Release: no, Credit line: Tim Rooke/Shutterstock / Avalon
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- Princess Beatrice and Eugenie follow the funeral procession of Queen Elizabeth II as it makes its way along the Mall, London, UK on September 19, 2022,Image: 724183880, License: Rights-managed, Restrictions: , Model Release: no, Credit line: James Shaw / Avalon
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- 19/09/2022. London, United Kingdom. Princess Eugenie and Princess Beatrice at the State Funeral of Queen Elizabeth II at Westminster Abbey in London.,Image: 724204294, License: Rights-managed, Restrictions: Licenced to i-Images Picture Agency. All Rights Reserved. UK copyright law applies to all print & online publications. i-Images space rates apply to all images. Magazines contact agency for fees before use. Images Single use only then repro fees apply. Info@i-images.co Tel: 07860204379, Model Release: no, Credit line: Stephen Lock / i-Images / Avalon
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USA Rights Only – Ascot, UK -20190618- Royal Ascot Day One Ascot Racecourse.
-PICTURED: Princess Eugenie of York, Princess Beatrice of York
-PHOTO by: Doug Peters/PA Images/INSTARimages.com
-43600999.jpg
This is an editorial, rights-managed image. Please contact Instar Images LLC for licensing fee and rights information at sales@instarimages.com or call +1 212 414 0207 This image may not be published in any way that is, or might be deemed to be, defamatory, libelous, pornographic, or obscene. Please consult our sales department for any clarification needed prior to publication and use. Instar Images LLC reserves the right to pursue unauthorized users of this material. If you are in violation of our intellectual property rights or copyright you may be liable for damages, loss of income, any profits you derive from the unauthorized use of this material and, where appropriate, the cost of collection and/or any statutory damages awarded
Featuring: Princess Eugenie of York, Princess Beatrice of York
Where: Ascot, England, United Kingdom
When: 18 Jun 2019
Credit: Doug Peters/PA Images/INSTARimages.com**USA Rights Only**
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Platinum Jubilee Reception hosted by the Lord Mayor of London at Gulidhall
Featuring: Princess Eugenie, Princess Beatrice
Where: London, United Kingdom
When: 03 Jun 2022
Credit: John Rainford/Cover Images**NOT AVAILABLE FOR PUBLICATION IN THE UK**
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North America Rights Only, London, England – 20220603- National Service of Thanksgiving On Day Two Of The Platinum Jubilee Celebrations
-PICTURED: Princess Eugenie and Princess Beatrice
-PHOTO by: PA Images/INSTARimages.com
-67259481Disclaimer:
This is an editorial, rights-managed image. Please contact INSTAR Images for licensing fee and rights information at sales@instarimages.com or call +1 212 414 0207. This image may not be published in any way that is, or might be deemed to be, defamatory, libelous, pornographic, or obscene. Please consult our sales department for any clarification needed prior to publication and use. INSTAR Images reserves the right to pursue unauthorized users of this material. If you are in violation of our intellectual property rights or copyright you may be liable for damages, loss of income, any profits you derive from the unauthorized use of this material and, where appropriate, the cost of collection and/or any statutory damages awarded
For images containing underage children: Be advised that some Countries may have restricted privacy laws against publishing images of underage children. Inform yourself! Underage children may need to be removed or have their face pixelated before publishingFeaturing: Princess Eugenie and Princess Beatrice
Where: London, England, United Kingdom
When: 03 Jun 2022
Credit: PA Images/INSTARimages.com**North America Rights Only**
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The Sovereign’s Garden Party at Buckingham Palace, London
Featuring: Princess Beatrice (left) and Princess Eugenie
Where: London, United Kingdom
When: 21 May 2024
Credit: PA Images/INSTARimages**NORTH AMERICA RIGHTS ONLY**
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Sarah, Duchess of York with her daughters Princess Beatrice and Princess Eugenie during a visit to the Teenage Cancer Trust unit at University College Hospital, London
Featuring: Princess Eugenie, Sarah, Duchess of York, Princess Beatrice
Where: London, United Kingdom
When: 23 Apr 2025
Credit: Aaron Chown/PA Images/INSTARimages**NORTH AMERICA RIGHTS ONLY**
