THAT'S HANDY

Disgraced ex-prince pocketed rent despite paying virtually nothing; Deal 'adds insult to injury' says expert in Royal Family's finances

- JENNIFER NEWTON

ANDREW Mountbatten-Windsor could have made a fortune from renting out cottages on his 99-acre estate - despite paying only a token sum to live at the 30-room mansion himself.

The disgraced former Duke of York was permitted to sublet cottages on the estate for 20 years before he was forced to move.

No detail of the amount he received has been confirmed but former government minister and royal finances expert Norman Baker estimates cottages in the area currently fetch £30,000 a year in rent.

A royal source claimed Mountbatten-Windsor was renting the cottages to staff to cover maintenance costs for the estate.

Mr Baker said: "The whole thing is outrageous... adding insult to injury.

"It shows an absolute total contempt for the taxpayer, not only that Andrew was able to have a peppercorn rent for a gigantic property, but then to make potentially millions on the side from subletting properties"

Profits from the Crown Estate are given to the Treasury for public spending.