Andrew Mountbatten Windsor has ‘dragged his heels’ over the move to his new residence, according to sources. But now another royal has intervened
Once, Andrew would have been celebrating Easter with the royals, but no longer. This year saw the former prince gear up to move to his permanent new home of Marsh Farm – with his tail between his legs.
The property, which sits slap bang next to a bog, marks a serious downsize from the lavish mansion of Royal Lodge that Andrew called home for decades and shared with his ex-wife, Sarah Ferguson. For some months, he has been already staying on the Sandringham Estate in Norfolk where Marsh Farm is located, holed up at Wood Farm, his father the late Prince Philip’s, former home.
The move comes as the most of the Royal Family, led by King Charles, celebrated Easter at Windsor – with none of Andrew’s family anywhere in sight. Princesses Beatrice and Eugenie decided ahead of time not to join the Firm for the major religious holiday, with royal sources confirming this was with the “agreement and understanding” of the monarch. As Royal editor Russell Myers explained, “Even in times of religious celebration, there is no forgiveness for the shame he has brought on the Royal Family,” after Fergie and Andrew “were exposed for their close relationship with the late convicted paedophile Jeffrey Epstein.”
Meanwhile, Sarah Ferguson has gone to ground in recent months. Neither his daughters, or his ex-wife, are said to have visited Andrew in Norfolk – with only one member of the Royal Family making the trip down to see the disgraced former duke.
His younger brother, Prince Edward, became the “first and only” Windsor to go and see Andrew in Sandringham this weekend, to have a “quiet word” about hurrying up his move to Marsh Farm. Edward and his wife Sophie often use Wood Farm as their Easter break property, but this year they reportedly had to fork out for a holiday let because the disgraced ex duke “refused to budge” from his temporary residence.
“He is just going back and forth between Wood Farm and Marsh Farm,” a source told the Sun. “It’s got to be sorted as Edward and Sophie like to use Wood Farm.”
The brothers are said to have had a complicated relationship when they were younger. Royal expert Robert Jobson says that Edward’s “sensitive” nature was often bulldozed by his more outgoing and bullish elder brother, and that Edward was closer to Prince Philip, while Andrew has long been said to be the late Queen’s favourite son.
A source added: “Prince Edward was the first and only member of the Royal Family to visit. Andrew has been ignored by everyone since he left Royal Lodge, including his daughters and ex-wife who have stayed away.
“Edward has already publicly made his feelings clear when he expressed concern for the victims. Edward was meant to be staying at Wood Farm as he regularly books it for Easter, but his brother was there.”
Edward has been the only Windsor to speak in public about the scandal surrounding his brother, answering an unexpected question from a journalist during a recent trip to the UAE. “Well, with the best will in the world, I’m not sure this is the audience that is the least bit interested in that,” Edward replied in response to the question about he was “coping” in light of the controversy, adding, “They all came here to listen to education, solving the future, but no, I think it’s all really important, always, to remember the victims and who are the victims in all this.”
Princess Anne is also said – even if she has not reportedly been to visit Andrew yet – to feel sorry for her younger brother, with some reports claiming she believed Charles had been “too harsh” on the former prince. She is also alleged to have offered Andrew a home on her own estate Gatcombe Park in Gloucestershire before he decided on Sandringham so he would have some moral support in the form of family nearby.
Andrew is said to have been “dragging his heels” over the move to Marsh Farm, and previously complained about its size and lack of staff. Renovations on the property include fitting carpets and curtains, installing a Sky satellite dish, as well as an internet connection. Not only that, but a mobile home has been installed in the ground to house his security detail, because the five-bedroom property does not have room to accommodate his security staff – and a six foot fence has been erected about the property.
This has done little to deter people from trying to get a peek of what is going on inside – with the Mail reporting that two people climbed on top of a gate yesterday to look over the fence, and allegedly heckling the former prince, before running away from Andrew’s security. Raising security concerns, the man and woman got out of a car whilst Andrew was there inspecting renovations, clambered up the outside gate, trying to get a good look. After getting spooked by the security detail, they got back in the car and drove away.
Meanwhile, Andrew was looking over the work that has been done ahead of his move-in date and chatting with the estate manager of Sandringham, Edward Parsons, the Mail reports.
The size of property that Andrew has been handed the keys to is said to have become a point of contention for the former duke who has spent many years living in a 30-room mansion a stones throw from Windsor Castle. Andrew was, according to sources, “appalled” that the small property has only have five bedrooms and views it as “cramped”. It’s also said that not being able to have live-in staff became a point of contention, with Charles trying to ease the burden by offering ad-hoc usage of Sandringham staff, which “hasn’t gone down well”.
It reportedly didn’t go down well with the staff either, who allegedly were told they could refuse to serve Andrew if they wanted – and many of them did so. Due to the smaller size of the property, lots of Andrew’s belongings are reported to have been moved to a storage facility in South London under 24-hour guard.
King Charles is said to be taking on the financial burden of Andrew himself to try and relieve the taxpayer, but questions have been raised about whether or not subsidies are really still taking place.
Over the course of his life, Andrew’s police security has cost the taxpayer around £150m it was recently reported. Andrew was arrested on 19 February on suspicion of misconduct in a public office, and was released pending further investigation.
