In a striking display of defiance amid his royal downfall, Andrew Mountbatten Windsor appears to be settling in for what might be his final evenings at the Royal Lodge after a substantial champagne delivery was spotted arriving at his Windsor residence.
The Royal Downfall Continues
The 65-year-old former Duke of York has been largely confined to the Royal residence since being stripped of his royal titles last month over his connections to the late convicted paedophile Jeffrey Epstein. Despite vehemently denying all accusations against him, Andrew was officially reduced to commoner status when King Charles issued a rare Letters Patent on Thursday, formally removing his brother's prince title and HRH style.
The disgraced royal now faces eviction from the 30-room Windsor mansion he has called home for over two decades, with plans underway to relocate him to a property on the Sandringham estate as soon as practically possible. While his exact departure date remains unclear, Saturday's champagne delivery suggests he intends to make the most of his remaining time at the opulent property.
Champagne Delivery and Strained Relations
Eyewitnesses reported seeing several boxes of Devaux Champagne being unloaded from a Majestic Wines van outside the gates of the Grade II-listed mansion before being carried inside. The delivery arrives amid reports that Andrew and his ex-wife Sarah Ferguson, while both residing at Royal Lodge, have been "spending a lot of time alone" according to sources close to the couple.
The former couple are said to sleep at opposite ends of the massive residence and only meet during meal times for conversation. Insiders describe Andrew as "ranting to himself" and rarely venturing out, while Ferguson has reportedly taken refuge at a secret bar located behind the mansion called 'The Doghouse', where she has been baring her soul to friends and staff.
Daughter's Emotional Support and New Blows
The turmoil has taken its toll on the couple's daughters, Princess Beatrice and Princess Eugenie, who were spotted sharing an emotional embrace in London's exclusive district near Green Park and Buckingham Palace on Thursday. The sisters appeared to be consoling one another during their intense conversation, standing on a street corner talking tersely without smiles before sharing a close, lingering hug.
Their emotional display came around the same time King Charles formally stripped their father of his remaining royal privileges. In a silver lining for the family, both princesses will retain their HRH titles and membership of the 'House of York', as the King is reportedly keen to ensure his nieces aren't tainted by their father's controversies.
Hours after the sisters' warm embrace, Andrew faced another significant blow when Democrat members of the House Oversight Committee sent him a letter ordering him to appear before Congress to explain his links to Epstein. The committee believes he possesses important information about people connected to the late financier's crimes.
Robert Garcia, the most senior Democrat figure on the committee, stated: "Rich and powerful men have evaded justice for far too long. Now, former Prince Andrew has the opportunity to come clean and provide justice for the survivors."
Andrew Mountbatten Windsor has for many years faced allegations he sexually abused Virginia Giuffre after she was trafficked by Epstein, accusations he strenuously denies. Despite maintaining he never met Giuffre, Andrew paid millions to settle the civil sex case with her in 2022.
Amid the growing scandal, his daughter Princess Beatrice has landed a major charity role, becoming deputy patron of The Outward Bound Trust, joining her uncle Prince Edward who was announced as the royal patron. Beatrice had already been a trustee since 2019, the same year the charity accepted Andrew's resignation as patron following his disastrous Newsnight interview.
As Andrew prepares to leave Royal Lodge and move to Sandringham, multiple sources indicate the process has been underway for some time, with the King making it clear he wouldn't hesitate to take further action if his younger brother continued to cling to his remaining honours.
