As the nation falls silent and the Royal Family gathers to honour the war dead this Remembrance Sunday, one figure will be conspicuously absent from the solemn ceremonies. The former Prince Andrew, once a central participant in these events, will spend the day hidden away at Royal Lodge, his life a stark contrast to the dignity of the occasion.
A Life in Isolation
Stripped of his military affiliations and royal titles by King Charles, Andrew Mountbatten finds himself in a state of effective exile. Sources describe a man largely confined to his 30-room Windsor home, filling his days with video games like Call of Duty and 'wandering around ranting to himself'. His removal from the official peerage has left the former naval officer licking his wounds, with his current existence bearing little resemblance to the privileged life he once knew.
The Countdown to Eviction
Time is running out for Andrew at Royal Lodge. He has just days left before he must begin packing for his forced departure from the virtually rent-free property in the New Year. The scale of the move is described as mammoth, with insiders revealing rooms filled with unopened Amazon packages. 'The Amazon deliveries that go up to Royal Lodge are unbelievable,' a source told the Daily Mail. 'There are rooms full of boxes that haven't even been opened.'
Andrew's ex-wife, Sarah Ferguson, who has shared the home with him for decades, has also been told to leave but will not be moving with him to his new accommodation on the Sandringham Estate in Norfolk. The couple currently live 'separate lives' under one roof, sleeping on opposite wings of the vast property, though they still meet for meals to discuss their situation.
Living in Denial Amid the Fallout
Despite his dramatic fall from grace, Andrew's entitled attitude reportedly remains unchanged behind closed doors. Staff are still required to refer to him by his royal titles and bow, with the former prince insisting that 'palace rules don't apply inside his walls'. This insistence on protocol comes despite King Charles permanently removing his styles and titles.
Insiders describe Andrew as living in a state of 'arrested adolescence', spending most days in a large sitting room dominated by a massive screen where he plays video games or watches war films and golf. His routines include taking daily 'air showers' by sitting by an open window to 'suck in fresh air' and suffering from lifelong insomnia that has worsened with his troubles.
Perhaps most tellingly, sources claim that losing his titles has been a more significant blow to Andrew than the sexual assault allegations he continues to vehemently deny. 'The most difficult thing for the Duke of York was not the allegations of sexual misconduct,' a staff member revealed. 'It was being stripped of his royal titles and losing his key role with the Royal Family. He's never gotten over this.'
As the Royal Family stands united in remembrance, Andrew remains alone in his crumbling estate - a prince in title only, counting down his final days in the home that has become his gilded cage.
