Parliament's spending watchdog has asked the Crown Estate to explain the rationale behind Prince Andrew's "peppercorn" rent at Royal Lodge.

The Public Accounts Committee (PAC) has written to the Treasury and the Crown Estate after raising concerns over the value for money of the prince's living arrangements.

The King 's team is said to be in talks with his brother about leaving the property voluntarily following renewed controversy over his links to the late paedophile financier Jeffrey Epstein .

Andrew signed a 75-year lease in 2003 after paying an initial down payment of £1m and spent £7.5m on renovations as part of the agreement. He lives there with his ex-wife, Sarah Ferguson.

Image: Prince Andrew lives at Royal Lodge with his ex-wife

"Peppercorn rent" is a legal term us

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