Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor Spotted in Grenadier Guards Jumper Amid Royal Lodge Exit
Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor was photographed driving in Windsor today, wearing a distinctive Grenadier Guards jumper as he prepares to move out of Royal Lodge imminently. The former Duke of York was seen behind the wheel of a Range Rover, sporting the purple sweatshirt that prominently features the infantry regiment's cypher, during a drive near the historic Long Walk.
Military Connections and Lost Titles
Andrew previously served as Colonel of the Grenadier Guards, a prestigious military appointment he held for just over four years after taking it on from Prince Philip in December 2017. However, this was among the eight British military titles he lost in January 2022 when they were returned to Queen Elizabeth II. The stripping of his honorary affiliations with the armed forces followed calls from 150 veterans urging the then-monarch to remove his appointments.
The role with one of the British Army's oldest regiments remained vacant until December that year, when Queen Camilla assumed the position three months after Elizabeth II's death.
Imminent Move and Uncertain Future
As Andrew's deadline to leave Royal Lodge looms, with the departure scheduled for this Friday, his remaining friends are reportedly growing increasingly concerned about the fragile state of both him and his ex-wife, Sarah Ferguson. The pair, whose reputations have been severely damaged by their association with the late billionaire paedophile Jeffrey Epstein, face an uncertain future as they vacate the rent-free Windsor property.
Andrew is preparing to relocate to Norfolk within the next week, although his intended home on the Sandringham estate, Marsh Farm, is still undergoing renovations by builders. He is expected to reside temporarily at Sandringham House until Marsh Farm becomes habitable around Easter.
Property Details and Personal Turmoil
The disgraced former duke was compelled to give up Royal Lodge after public outcry over revelations that he had been paying only a peppercorn rent for the 30-bedroom property, which he has occupied since 2003. At Marsh Farm, a 6ft wooden fence has been erected around a section where the hedge is thin, and a digger has been observed working on the grounds of the property, which has stood empty for several years and is located approximately two miles from the King's Sandringham House.
Reports indicate that Andrew initially wished to live at Wood Farm on Sandringham, but concerns were allegedly raised that this would place him too close to other members of the Royal Family. Meanwhile, staff currently employed at Royal Lodge are being made redundant as part of the transition.
Ongoing Scandal and Legal Settlements
Andrew's pariah status appears to have been reinforced recently by news that his daughter, Princess Eugenie, has severed all contact with him in the aftermath of the Epstein scandal. Last year, he was stripped of his remaining titles following the posthumous release of Virginia Giuffre's memoir, Nobody's Girl.
The book provides Giuffre's account of being trafficked by Epstein and includes allegations against several individuals, including Andrew. It details previous claims that she was forced to have sex with the former prince on three occasions, once when she was 17 years old. Andrew continues to vehemently deny these allegations, despite having paid millions to Giuffre to settle a civil sexual assault case, while maintaining he never met her.
