Plus: Why have White House ballroom costs doubled? ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏
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| | | Hello. A new report examines the property arrangements of the royal family, including Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor and his daughters. We take a look at the changing White House ballroom plans, and see an array of Marilyn Monroe memorabilia which has gone under the hammer. | | | | | | |
| TOP OF THE AGENDA | | Andrew was sub-letting Royal Lodge cottages, watchdog reveals | | | | | The watchdog report examined the 12 royal properties of Andrew and his family. Credit: Toby Melville/Reuters | | The first report into royal residences in 20 years shows the former prince sub-let three cottages on the Royal Lodge estate that he leased from the Crown Estate. It is not known how much money Mountbatten-Windsor received, but Palace sources suggest it was only enough to cover running costs. However much it was, it would have gone to him rather than the Crown Estate - an independent property company managing assets on behalf of the crown - which would pay its profits back to the Treasury. The report also revealed that the King pays the rent for accommodation in royal palaces for the former prince's daughters, Princesses Eugenie and Beatrice, who are not working royals. There are no suggestions of anything unlawful in the report, carried out by the public spending watchdog, but the optics are likely to be uncomfortable for the Palace. A spokesman said the findings were "in line with the Royal Household's commitment to transparency". | | | | | | | |
- East Lodge: Earlier this year, Mountbatten-Windsor handed back the lease on another Crown Estate property, believed to have been used for staff accommodation.
- Trade envoy: The Palace was handed emails six years ago that would have shown Andrew was sharing government information, court documents say.
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| | | | | - 'Dangerous period': The risks and threats to the UK are greater now than at any time since the Cold War, the head of the military has said. This is why.
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| | | BEYOND THE HEADLINES | | How Trump's White House ballroom plan has doubled in size and cost | | | | | | | Trump initially promised that the ballroom wouldn't cost taxpayers anything. Credit: Getty Images | | A year ago, US President Donald Trump announced plans for a new ballroom at the White House. In the ensuing months, the proposals have grown to include a rooftop "drone port", a bomb shelter, an underground hospital and "top secret" military facilities. These aren't the only things to have changed - so has the estimated price tag - doubling to $400m (£300m). BBC Verify takes a look at satellite images, public plans and what's been said, to examine how the cost of the project has ballooned - and who will finance it.
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| SOMETHING DIFFERENT | | Dream addicts | | Some people have daydreams that last for years - here's how to tell if it's gone too far. | | | | | | |