Prince Andrew looks gloomy as he goes riding alone in Windsor – days after celebrating his 64th birthday
Prince Andrew appeared somber today as he embarked on a solo drive around the Windsor Estate.
The Duke of York, 64, celebrated his birthday on February 19, but it was unclear how much celebration there was at the Royal Lodge, his grand home in Windsor Great Park.
The disgraced Duke was spotted on Saturday on his weekly drive around the Berkshire estate, this time without the company of a groom or his brother Prince Edward.
The king’s brother looked unhappy as he moved through the estate, shielding himself from the cold February weather in a thick navy blue coat and gloves.
Andrew wore matching riding breeches and opted for a riding helmet with a white stripe.
Prince Andrew appeared somber today as he embarked on a solo drive around the Windsor Estate
Later, the prince was in a much happier mood as he rode through Windsor, this time accompanied by a friend.
He stopped to chat with a group of dog walkers on The Long Mile before continuing towards Windsor Castle, where his mother had spent much of her time.
Prince Andrew turned 64 on February 19, but it is unclear how much celebration took place following his spectacular fall from grace in recent years.
Andrew’s ill-advised association with convicted pedophile Jeffrey Epstein led to his being stripped of his royal patronage and military ties, and his forced withdrawal from public life.
In 2015, Virginia Giuffre (formerly Roberts) alleged in a lawsuit that Epstein charged her with having sex with Prince Andrew three times when she was 17.
Later, in 2021, Giuffre filed a lawsuit against the prince over the alleged encounters. He repeatedly denied the claims, but settled the case in 2022 – without relenting – with a payout to Giuffre.
The Prince has strongly denied any wrongdoing and continues to do so. There is speculation that he was under pressure to bow out so as not to overshadow the platinum jubilee of his late mother, the Queen, that same year.
However, his reputation remains in tatters.
The Duke of York, 64, celebrated his birthday on February 19, but it was unclear how much celebration there was at the Royal Lodge, his grand home in Windsor Great Park.
Later, the prince was in a much happier mood as he drove through Windsor, this time accompanied by a friend
And the Epstein affair is far from the first time that Queen Elizabeth and Prince Philip’s third child has been at the center of controversy.
His judgment was questioned after he met with Saif, the son of Libyan leader Colonel Muammar Gaddafi, and when he hosted the son-in-law of Tunisia’s deposed president, Zine El Abidine Ben Ali, at Buckingham Palace.
His relations with Timor Kulibayev, son-in-law of Kazakhstan’s president, also came under scrutiny after Mr Kulibayev bought the duke’s Sunninghill Park home in 2007 for £3 million more than the £12 million asking price.
He also became known as ‘Air Miles Andy’ after flying thousands of people everywhere by helicopter, often managing to fit a visit to the golf course into his work trips.