'Right thing to do': MPs urge parliament to strip Andrew of dukedom amid fresh allegations

MPs have moved to lodge a parliamentary motion to strip Prince Andrew of his dukedom, in a rarely permitted move in the Commons.

- Jessica Elgot Deputy political editor

The government is facing mounting pressure over the prince's residence in the 30-room Royal Lodge in Windsor. It was revealed that he has not paid rent there for more than two decades.

The chancellor, Rachel Reeves, said she believed people should “pay their way” when asked whether Andrew should be permitted to remain there after the fresh allegations made against him about his relationship with the convicted child sex offender Jeffrey Epstein.

Reeves said she was not across the details of his living arrangements but said they should be decided fairly. "He shouldn't have been associated with a convicted paedophile, and I think the new revelations in this book make for very sober reading and I'm sure everybody will reflect on that and form their own judgment," she told the BBC.

The Times reported that documents released under freedom of information laws showed Andrew paid £1m for the lease and at least £7.5m for refurbishments, but only “one peppercorn (if demanded)” in rent each year since 2003 and is entitled to live there until 2078.

The lease suggests that the crown estate would owe Prince Andrew about £558,000 if he gave up the lease.