Prince Andrew spotted driving through Windsor – after claims he ‘has no long-term future’ at his Royal Lodge home
Prince Andrew appeared in good spirits as he rode through Windsor today – a day after he made a nod to his late mother by wearing a poppy on his horse.
The Duke of York, 63, was dressed casually in a navy blue jumper as he drove through the Berkshire estate, shielding his eyes from the autumn sun.
Yesterday he went with his horse to the grounds of the Royal Lodge, on which a poppy lay on its side.
This is a gesture often associated with the late Queen Elizabeth, who displayed the red flowers on her horses every year around Remembrance Day.
His outing came amid rumors that King Charles privately believes his younger brother has ‘no long-term future’ in his royal household, despite giving Andrew more time to prove he can afford the mansion’s upkeep .
Prince Andrew appeared cheerful as he rode through Windsor today – a day after he made a nod to his late mother by wearing a poppy on his horse
A family friend said: ‘To be honest, I didn’t expect the Duke of York to live at Royal Lodge in the long term. If he could afford the upkeep, he would like to stay. But the chances of that happening are honestly slim.
“He and the Duchess… are rattling around in a huge property that they simply can’t afford.”
The king cut Andrew’s annual allowance – believed to be around £250,000 – following the emergence of the Jeffrey Epstein scandal. Andrew is said to have paid Epstein sex abuse victim Virginia Roberts £12 million to settle a case she brought against him out of court – allegations he strongly denied.
Last month, Andrew was pictured riding through Windsor Great Park on horseback.
The father-of-two wore navy blue riding breeches and a zip-up sweater with a royal code on it for the outing, making sure to wear a riding helmet and gloves.
In September he seemed to be enjoying his equestrian activities and driving a Range Rover very regularly.
The pictures follow reports that the beleaguered Duke of York has been given permission by the monarch to stay at his Windsor mansion ‘indefinitely’ after they ‘agreed a new deal’.
The pair are at loggerheads over Charles’s demand that Andrew and his ex-wife, Sarah, move the 30-room royal property – which has problems with damp and needs several million pounds worth of repairs – to a smaller site, such as Harry and Meghan’s old home, Frogmore Cottage.
The Duke of York, 63, was dressed casually in a navy blue jumper as he drove through the Berkshire estate, shielding his eyes from the autumn sun
Prince Andrew appeared cheerful yesterday as he left the Royal Lodge in Windsor for a horse riding tour
Andrew’s horse had a poppy on its side (pictured) – a gesture often associated with the late Queen Elizabeth, who displayed the red flowers on her horses every year around Remembrance Day
The Mirror reported last month that Andrew had been granted a stay of execution after Charles accepted that his brother would be given time to prove he can afford the upkeep of the mansion.
Several well-placed sources in royal circles have told the Mail that the prince is not being “realistic” about his financial situation after being forced to step back from his public duties.
A family friend said: ‘It’s all a bit cloud cuckoo land I’m afraid. No one, not least His Majesty, believes there is any realistic chance that the Duke of York can keep the roof of the Royal Lodge over his head in the long term.
‘It is a huge building and an estate that requires a huge amount of maintenance.’
The King has no right to kick his brother out because Andrew took over the late Queen Mother’s Grade II listed building from the Crown Estate on a long-term lease in 2004 and financed many millions of pounds worth of renovations.