A clandestine meeting between King Charles III and the King of Bahrain has ignited intense speculation regarding the future of the disgraced Prince Andrew, suggesting a potential relocation to the Gulf island state.
A Secret Summit in the Cotswolds
On November 11th, less than a fortnight after Andrew was stripped of his royal titles and home, King Charles was flown by helicopter to a secret summit. The meeting took place at King Hamad bin Isa Al Khalifa's Oxfordshire estate, Glympton Park, a property valued at £120 million.
The 43-mile journey from Windsor to the Cotswolds estate lasted just 23 minutes by helicopter, one of the most polluting modes of travel. This is notable given King Charles's well-documented eco-conscious stance; in 2006, he pledged to stop using royal helicopters and private jets on official engagements where possible.
Despite the timing on a busy Remembrance Day, the King and King Hamad are understood to have talked for more than an hour. Charles returned to Windsor after 4.30pm, in time to host a reception with Queen Camilla for Forces veterans.
Palace Downplays, Sources Suggest Otherwise
Palace courtiers were quick to play down the meeting's significance, insisting it was a private gathering between two old friends and that the question of Andrew's future was not on the agenda.
However, sources close to the matter indicate the timing adds considerable weight to the suggestion that Andrew is eyeing a new life in Bahrain. Bahrain, a British protectorate for 110 years until 1971, is a country where Andrew has previously expressed interest in relocating.
Sources highlight that Andrew loves 'being fussed over and made to feel royal again' in Bahrain. He is close to both King Hamad and his 56-year-old son, Crown Prince Salman. Since his spell as a UK trade ambassador, Andrew has remained a regular visitor.
The Wider Context of Andrew's Future
The speculation arrives amid a tumultuous period for the Duke of York. A key factor in the Bahrain theory is that unlike the UK, Bahrain does not have an extradition agreement with the US. In the US, Andrew has failed to respond to requests to testify to Congress about his links with the late sex offender Jeffrey Epstein.
In 2022, Andrew undertook his first trip abroad since his disastrous BBC Newsnight interview, flying to Bahrain by private jet. While it was announced he would not leave his Royal Lodge home until well into the New Year, he is expected to eventually move to Sandringham before any potential relocation abroad.
The prince's international dealings have long been a source of controversy. Simon Wilson, Britain’s deputy head of mission in Bahrain from 2001 to 2005, once described Andrew as being ‘more commonly known among the British diplomatic community in the Gulf as HBH: His Buffoon Highness’. Leaked US diplomatic cables also showed a US ambassador describing him as ‘rude’ and ‘cocky’. This secret meeting now places his complex relationship with Bahrain back under the spotlight.
