The disgraced former prince, Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor, is reportedly living a life dominated by fear and anger as he counts down the weeks until his forced eviction from Royal Lodge. This follows his brother, King Charles, stripping him of his royal titles in the wake of the ongoing Jeffrey Epstein scandal.
A Reclusive Life at Royal Lodge
Andrew was spotted for the first time in several weeks this Monday, seen horse-riding around the Windsor estate. This rare public appearance broke the cover of a man who has become increasingly reclusive. He continues to reside at the 30-room Royal Lodge, the home he shared for over two decades with his ex-wife Sarah Ferguson, but his time there is rapidly running out. He is scheduled to move to a property on the Sandringham estate in Norfolk in the new year.
Humiliation and Unlikely Humility
According to former BBC royal correspondent Jennie Bond, the former prince is consumed by feelings of humiliation and rage. Jennie Bond told the Mirror, "I’m sure he’s feeling humiliated and, by all accounts, angry. You have to remember that he has consistently protested his innocence. Therefore, he feels wronged."
She elaborated on the significant lifestyle shift awaiting Andrew, noting that the privileges of his former royal life are now gone. "I don’t think Andrew is the sort of person who will ever feel humble," Bond stated. "That’s not in his nature. I think he will expect to have staff in his new home, as I don’t imagine he has the first idea about how to cook, clean or shop."
One Path to Remorse: Cooperate with the Investigation
Despite his shattered reputation due to his connection with convicted paedophile Jeffrey Epstein, Jennie Bond suggested one action could demonstrate a degree of remorse. She believes Andrew should cooperate with the US Congressional House Oversight Committee, which is investigating Epstein's activities.
The committee has summoned the former prince, with investigators stating in a letter they want his assistance to "uncover the identities of Mr Epstein’s co-conspirators and enablers." However, Bond admitted this currently seems unlikely.
This sentiment was echoed by Suhas Subramanyam, a Democrat member of the committee, who told The Guardian that Andrew "has been hiding from us, and I think he will continue to try to hide." He added, "It seems like every time we find more evidence, Andrew seems to be in the documents... he will be sorely disappointed, as we continue to pursue this."
