Prince Andrew may soon find himself summoned before Parliament to address questions regarding his residential situation, following support for such action from Sir Keir Starmer.

The Prime Minister has expressed backing for a parliamentary inquiry into the circumstances surrounding the former Duke of York’s long-standing, rent-free occupancy of Royal Lodge in Windsor Park, which has lasted over 20 years.

This development follows a statement from Sir Ed Davey, who suggested that a select committee should have the authority to question relevant witnesses, specifically mentioning King Charles III’s embattled younger brother.

During Prime Minister’s Questions in the Commons, the Liberal Democrat leader, Sir Ed Davey, raised concerns: “In light of the revelations about Royal Lodge, does the Prime Minister agree that Parliament needs to thoroughly examine the Crown Estate to safeguard taxpayers’ interests?”

He further added, “The Chancellor, Rachel Reeves, has acknowledged that the current arrangements are flawed. Will the Prime Minister endorse a select committee inquiry, allowing all involved parties, including the current occupant, to be called for testimony?”

Sir Keir replied: ‘It’s important in relation to all Crown properties that there is proper scrutiny and I would certainly 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.