{
  "$type": "site.standard.document",
  "bskyPostRef": {
    "cid": "bafyreih7o4jxcbwerrdeefmohhifjwbjojoi5kzdqdiyyqmw42planp4om",
    "uri": "at://did:plc:b7afdzqsmwksxypciqnplglk/app.bsky.feed.post/3mns3yupkgy62"
  },
  "coverImage": {
    "$type": "blob",
    "ref": {
      "$link": "bafkreictajclufsmy7kxpficr3clqghzc2hhz7mqbzjy5buj33yoxxpch4"
    },
    "mimeType": "image/jpeg",
    "size": 60727
  },
  "path": "/2026/06/08/prince-william-will-do-things-differently-royal-property-becomes-king-28694430/",
  "publishedAt": "2026-06-08T15:26:49.000Z",
  "site": "https://metro.co.uk",
  "tags": [
    "News",
    "UK",
    "Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor",
    "Catherine, Princess of Wales",
    "King Charles III",
    "Prince William, Prince of Wales",
    "Prince William",
    "modernising the monarchy",
    "royals",
    "King Charles pays rent for his nieces, Princesses Beatrice and Eugenie",
    "Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor,",
    "News Updates",
    "Breaking News",
    "Andrew",
    "Jeffrey Epstein",
    "Andrew’s arrest on his 66th birthday",
    "look into sexual misconduct allegations",
    "Kate Middleton",
    "Prince and Princess of Wales pay £307,500 a year in rent on the Grade II listed mansion",
    "Add Metro as a Preferred Source on Google\nAdd as preferred source"
  ],
  "textContent": "Prince William wants to modernise the monarchy (Picture: Getty Images)\n\nPrince William has big plans for his role as future King.\n\nFrom modernising the monarchy to downsizing the number of working royals, he’s also considering implementing stricter rules around the family’s huge property portfolio, it’s been reported.\n\nThis includes stopping non-working royals from living rent-free in palaces, after it was revealed that King Charles pays rent for his nieces, Princesses Beatrice and Eugenie, through the privy purse.\n\nThe revelation was part of a wider National Audit Office (NAO) report, which last week found the girls’ father, Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor, had been subletting three cottages on his former Royal Lodge estate.\n\nDuring this time, it’s estimated Andrew pocketed as much as £180,000 a year, all while paying ‘peppercorn rent’ to live there for 22 years.\n\n##  Sign up for all of the latest stories\n\nStart your day informed with Metro's **News Updates** newsletter or get **Breaking News** alerts the moment it happens.\n\nAndrew Mountbatten Windsor was subletting properties on the Royal Lodge estate (Picture:Jordan Pettitt/PA Wire)\n\nNaturally, this sparked more public outrage towards Andrew, who was stripped of his titles last year by his brother, the King, due to intense scrutiny surrounding his friendship with the late convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein.\n\nHowever, it was reported that Andrew had not actually done anything wrong by subletting, as he was ‘entitled under the lease to let those properties,’ royal expert Richard Fitzwilliams told The i Paper.\n\nStill, when his time comes, it’s claimed Prince William will ban the subletting of homes. A source told The Sunday Times that he wishes to ‘do things differently,’ and is attempting to ‘draw a line under the past.’\n\nFitzwilliams said that William will aim to do it as ‘tactfully as possible.’ He explained that the ‘problem [William] is attempting to deal with, is a lot of these things began 20 or 30 years ago or even more, and this is the way things were handled.’\n\nThe Prince of Wales wants to ‘do things differently’ (Picture: Hugh Hastings/Getty Images)\n\nHe added: ‘Remember that each monarch inhabits or inherits the throne at a different time and the optics, during those various periods, obviously alter as society changes.’\n\nThe expert stated that ‘what was acceptable’ or ‘done’ years ago ‘can’t be done now or shouldn’t be done now.’\n\nFitzwilliams concluded that ‘William clearly wants to emphasise that things will alter when he is king,’ as he is ‘conscious of the fact that a lot is coming to light now which isn’t appropriate in our time.’\n\nThis likely includes Andrew’s arrest on his 66th birthday on suspicion of misconduct in public office. In May, it was revealed that the investigation could also look into sexual misconduct allegations.\n\nIn regard to William’s transparency, he recently made the terms of Forest Lodge’s lease — his and Kate Middleton’s ‘forever home’ — public.\n\nIt was reported that the Prince and Princess of Wales pay £307,500 a year in rent on the Grade II listed mansion. This is £100,000 more than the previous tenants.\n\nThere is also a clause in the lease that prohibits subletting the three cottages on the grounds.\n\nWilliam and Kate live in Forest Lodge with their three children (Picture: Chris Jackson/Getty Images)\n\nMeanwhile, The Sunday Times insider said that the prince wants to ensure the monarchy is ‘fit for purpose in the modern era.’\n\nThis includes him being ‘mindful of how much the monarchy costs.’\n\nFollowing the audit report, Buckingham Palace released a statement to saythat it was ‘in line with the royal household’s commitment to transparency.’\n\nThe Palace said it hopes that the ‘findings will help correct, clarify or contextualise a number of points regarding royal properties.\n\n‘As the report notes, arrangements for properties managed by the royal household vary based on a number of factors to ensure residences are filled appropriately, depending on their location, tenants and purpose.’\n\nComment now Comments \nAdd Metro as a Preferred Source on Google\nAdd as preferred source\n",
  "title": "Prince William will ‘do things differently’ with royal property when he is King"
}