Prince Andrew may soon be summoned by Parliament to explain his living situation, following support from Sir Keir Starmer for such an inquiry.

The Prime Minister expressed approval today for a parliamentary investigation into the reasons behind the former Duke of York’s rent-free residence at Royal Lodge in Windsor Park, which has persisted for more than 20 years.

This development follows Sir Ed Davey’s call for a select committee inquiry that would involve questioning various witnesses, including Prince Andrew, King Charles III’s embattled younger brother.

During today’s Prime Minister’s Questions in the House of Commons, the Liberal Democrat leader, Sir Ed Davey, raised concerns. He asked, “Given the revelations about Royal Lodge, does the Prime Minister agree that Parliament should thoroughly examine the Crown Estate to ensure taxpayers’ interests are safeguarded?”

He further pressed, “The Chancellor, Rachel Reeves, has herself criticized the current arrangements. Will the Prime Minister endorse a select committee inquiry, allowing all involved parties to be summoned for evidence, including the current resident?”

Sir Keir Starmer responded affirmatively, stating, “It’s crucial that all Crown properties undergo proper scrutiny, and I would definitely support that.”

The prince’s links to paedophile Jeffrey Epstein have dominated the headlines for days, with fresh focus on his sex accuser Virginia Giuffre’s allegations, which Andrew denies, after the publication of her posthumous memoirs.

The Prime Minister today said he would back an inquiry by MPs into why the former Duke of York has lived rent-free at Royal Lodge in Windsor Park (below) for more than two decades.

It came after Sir Ed Davey said that an inquiry by a select committee should be able to grill witnesses ‘including the current occupant’ – a reference to King Charles III’s beleaguered brother.

Last night senior Tory Robert Jenrick said it was ‘about time Prince Andrew took himself off to live in private’ as ‘the public are sick of him’ after it emerged Andrew has paid a ‘peppercorn rent’ on his 30-room home for more than 20 years.

Speaking after PMQs, Sir Ed said: ‘The public are quite understandably demanding answers, so it’s right that Parliament gets to the bottom of arrangements regarding the Royal Lodge.

‘Prince Andrew should come before a Parliamentary committee to give his evidence and show contrition. Transparency will be central to rebuilding trust in our institutions.’

Andrew has lived for two decades rent-free at Royal Lodge, paying just ‘one peppercorn (if demanded) per annum’ – according to the extraordinary terms of his lease made public by the Crown Estate, which hands its profits to the Treasury for the benefit of the nation’s finances.

Parliamentary committees could now look into the Crown Estate’s handling of the grandiose home set in 98 pristine acres of Windsor Great Park.

Speaking after PMQs, Sir Ed said: ‘The public are quite understandably demanding answers, so it’s right that Parliament gets to the bottom of arrangements regarding the Royal Lodge’

Last night Dame Meg Hillier, chairman of the Treasury committee, said: ‘Where money flows, particularly where taxpayers’ money is involved or taxpayers’ interests are involved, Parliament has a responsibility to have a light shine upon that, and we need to have answers.’

At one point yesterday, Whitehall sources believed the spending watchdog, the National Audit Office, could launch a probe because it was in ‘the public interest’ to examine whether Royal Lodge was ‘value for money’ to taxpayers.

But one source admitted they had concluded Andrew’s lease on the property was watertight, adding: ‘There are no plans to look into this now. 

‘That might change at some point in the future. There is a lot of political pressure.’

A law which would allow the King to formally strip Prince Andrew of his dukedom is being introduced in the Commons on Wednesday.

The prince announced last week he would stop using his Duke of York title to avoid distracting from the work of the royal family, but an Act of Parliament would be required to formally remove the dukedom.

York Central MP Rachael Maskell has set out legislation which would grant Charles the power to remove titles.

The proposed new law would give the monarch the power to remove titles on his own initiative, following a recommendation of a joint committee of Parliament, or at the request of the person who holds the title.