The former Duke of York is set to cut a lonely figure since moving from his Royal Lodge home in Windsor to Sandringham, occasionally being seen driving about or walking his dogs
Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor is living the “worst of both worlds” as he continues to be holed up in Marsh Farm, an expert has said. The former Duke of York has seemingly cut a lonely figure since being turfed out of his Royal Lodge home.
Since making the move from Windsor to Norfolk, he has been seen going on the occasional dog walk or driving his car. The move, announced when stripped of his royal titles, was reportedly funded by a “six-figure payout” from King Charles, who will continue to privately fund Andrew.
It came after concerns were raised about Andrew’s friendship with convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein and the subsequent release of the so-called Epstein files. He has vehemently denied all allegations made against him.
In February, he was arrested on suspicion of misconduct in public office. However he was subsequently released under investigation.
Since making the move to Norfolk, Andrew is understood not to have been visited by his older brother or his nephew, Prince William, but has seen Prince Edward and Princess Anne. Edward and his wife Sophie are said to have dinner at Wood Farm, his temporary home before he moved to Marsh Farm earlier this month, as a “brotherly welfare check”.
The Daily Mail’s Diary Editor Richard Eden however says he is “not sympathetic” to the former Duke of York and believes Charles shouldn’t have funded his brother’s move. Instead, Eden called on Andrew to “get a job,” adding: “There’s loads of jobs available in this country.”
He continued: “At the moment, it’s the worst of all worlds, he’s moping around, using the king’s money, but they’re encouraging people to visit Sandringham this summer, so keep an eye out for Andrew, you might see him in the background somewhere.”
When asked if the Royal Family are sympathetic to Andrew, the paper’s Royal Editor Rebecca English added: “He’s their brother at the end of the day and I think there is concern among some family members for him as someone who is their brother and will always be their blood brother but I think it’s fair to say sympathy has run out.”
While the Duke of Edinburgh is said to have visited Andrew at Wood Farm, the Princess Royal is understood to have spoken to him on the phone. It comes as reports said that Anne even suggested she would have been willing to house him at Gatcombe Park in Gloucestershire.
Former BBC royal correspondent Jennie Bond has outlined why she believes it’s Edward and Anne stepping up for Andrew. Speaking to the Mirror, she said: “I think this is an illustration of the separation of the institution of monarchy and the royal family.
The King and his heir, William, have a vested interest in protecting the monarchy – and feel they have a duty to do so. Andrew poses a threat to the good name of the monarchy, and so both Charles and William are keeping their distance.
“I’m sure Anne and Edward feel the same loyalty to the Crown, but they are also slightly more at liberty to keep in contact with their brother, Andrew. And it seems they are doing so.”
Elsewhere, Andrew has faced calls to be stripped of the Freedom of the City of London, which he inherited from his father. The City of London Corporation (CLC) however told its councillors that it cannot be taken back.
