Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor was out and about near Windsor Castle this week, enjoying a brief horse ride, when he was unexpectedly heckled by a member of the public.
Despite the jeering, the former Duke of York appeared cheerful, even sharing light-hearted jokes with two dog walkers along the long walk.
His Land Rover ride and quick outing on horseback were a rare glimpse of the ex-prince in public as he prepares to move from his longtime residence at Royal Lodge.
Life on the Move: From Royal Lodge to Marsh Farm
Photographs show Andrew driving around in his car, now without the distinctive “DOY” number plates, and taking short horse rides as the preparations for his new home at Marsh Farm on the King’s Sandringham Estate in Norfolk continue.
The property is being upgraded with the help of removals vans, Sky engineers, and security fence installers.
The move is expected to coincide with Easter, and until then, Andrew may stay temporarily on a smaller property within the Norfolk estate.
Marsh Farm Undergoing Major Renovations
Workers have been spotted installing Sky TV, building a new six-foot wooden privacy fence, and setting up security lights at Marsh Farm, just two miles from King Charles’s Sandringham home.
A JCB digger has been used to clear land, and a team of at least six local security personnel has been on site through the cold and rain to prepare the property.
Insiders describe the farmhouse as requiring significant work to make it suitable for occupancy.
Temporary Housing Ahead of Easter Move
Andrew will reportedly live in a smaller temporary property on the Sandringham Estate until the renovations at Marsh Farm are complete.
The estate’s secluded village of Wolferton, home to the property, is small, with a church and social club but no shops or pubs.
The area also borders King’s Wood Farm, where Prince Philip spent his retirement years.
Drones were banned from flying over the property last autumn, extending the Sandringham no-fly zone to cover Marsh Farm.
Life After Royal Lodge: Downsizing in Norfolk
Marsh Farm is far smaller and less luxurious than Royal Lodge.
Initially, Andrew had hoped to move into Wood Farm, a five-bedroom cottage, but concerns over proximity to the rest of the royal family reportedly scuppered those plans.
Royal Lodge, by contrast, had been a 30-room mansion he rented rent-free for 22 years, under a 75-year lease that included costly refurbishment obligations.
Despite promises to allow inspections, Crown Estate officials never formally inspected the property during his tenure, raising questions over the arrangement.
Sarah Ferguson Continues to Share Space
Andrew’s ex-wife, Sarah Ferguson, has been living with him at Royal Lodge since 2008, despite their divorce in 1996.
Fergie has called their relationship “the happiest divorced couple in the world,” emphasizing that while they are divorced legally, they remain close personally.
She is currently exploring other housing options, including a potential “granny annexe” in the Cotswolds near Princess Beatrice or a move to Portugal with Princess Eugenie.
Scandals and Consequences
Andrew’s relocation follows a series of public scandals tied to his association with the late financier Jeffrey Epstein.
Virginia Giuffre, one of Epstein’s victims, alleged she was forced to have sex with Andrew on three occasions when she was 17, claims he has consistently denied.
Despite his denials, Andrew reached a multi-million-pound settlement with Giuffre before her passing in April last year.
Emails released last year suggested he maintained contact with Epstein longer than previously admitted and may have met Giuffre despite his assertions to the contrary.
Titles and Public Life Stripped
Amid growing public and royal pressure, King Charles asked Andrew to relinquish his royal titles.
His status as a prince was officially stripped in November, marking the formal end of his public royal role.
With his move to Marsh Farm, Andrew is stepping into a quieter, more modest chapter of life away from the spotlight, facing both personal and practical changes as he settles into Norfolk.
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