For someone who has been sent away to live in obscurity, the internal exile formerly known as Prince Andrew is rarely out of the news these days. Admittedly – mercifully – recent stories have had nothing directly to do with the murky misdeeds which have brought such shame to the House of Windsor. But he continues to fascinate.
Barely a week goes by without his dreary, doughy face popping up somewhere – well upholstered, deep frown lines and thin lips compressed into a permanent “no comment” that may well have stood him in perfect stead when he was arrested in February on his 66th birthday, and interviewed on suspicion of misconduct in public office.
He did a mandatory midnight flit from Royal Lodge in Windsor Great Park shortly before his run-in with the rozzers at the behest of Charles. For tradition’s sake, there was talk of him being immured in the Tower of London, but as tourism is a valuable money-spinner, there were concerns his entitled bellowing might put off overseas visitors.
Instead, Andrew is supposed to be lying low at Sandringham. So what to make of reports that Princess Anne has been in touch, and Prince Edward and his wife, Sophie, are visiting him?
Some commentators are reliably furious that anyone is reaching out. Why would they? How could they? And most pressing of all, given all that’s happened – should they? What sort of message does it send out if members of The Firm are effectively keeping him in the proverbial fold?
And there we have it – a reminder that The Firm isn’t, in fact, Waystar Royco, the fictional conglomerate in Succession. Yes, it needs to run efficiently and effectively. Yes, as royalty, it’s in their unspoken job description to behave with dignity and restraint. But, crucially, they are a Royal family.
Anne and Edward are simply doing what any family does during times of turbulence and tribulation. Andrew, by all accounts, is not a terribly likeable man – a buffoon who likes crude jokes, a bully who used to pick on his younger sibling, Edward, and, at the very least, a complete boor with women.
He is the architect of his own misfortune. There is no one he can blame for his close friendship with the convicted sex offender and paedophile, Jeffrey Epstein. If he is found to have acted illegally or dishonourably as the UK’s special representative for international trade and investment, then he should be brought to book.
But. He remains family. Sources report he has been brought low, no longer the blustering bombast. That must be quite the transformation – of course, his sister and his brother are concerned about his mental health.
After Andrew was barred from attending the annual service in Windsor, Edward and Sophie shared dinner with him over the Easter weekend in what has been described as “a brotherly welfare check”.
“Edward and Sophie had dinner with Andrew one night over the weekend, and they talked things through,” a royal source said. “It’s true to say they both feel sorry for Andrew and how far he has fallen, and they are worried about his fragile state of mind.”
The Princess Royal, meanwhile, has been on the phone to check in. She had generously offered Andrew a house on her Gloucestershire estate, Gatcombe Park, after he was given his marching orders from Royal Lodge, although this was reportedly rescinded following fresh revelations from the Epstein files.
None of this remotely suggests Andrew has been forgiven for purveying sleaze – the incriminating photographs, the lies, the accounts of sexual exploitation by women.
For his part, Prince William is implacably furious. Charles has completely distanced himself and has punctiliously ensured his younger brother has been stripped of his royal titles, patronages and privileges. But there is no question of cutting Andrew off completely. Hence, he is being housed at the five-bedroom Marsh Farm, and his living expenses are being covered by the King.
After a brief stay at Wood Farm – another property on the estate – while he waited for renovations to be completed, Andrew has now moved in, alone. What does he do all day? Well, there were long lens snaps of “Andy-No-Mates” out walking his dogs, with his close protection officer hovering as far away as the terms and conditions of his contract would allow.
He’s also bought a second-hand static caravan, largely held together by moss. It’s been installed outside his house, ostensibly for his security team, but apparently, he enjoys sitting in it.
Fair dos. Who doesn’t long to relive childhood summer holidays? Except Andrew’s were spent in Balmoral Castle, so maybe it’s a glorified man cave.
Apparently, the King would have preferred him to invest in an altogether classier shepherd’s hut. But Andy never did have taste. Back in the day, his and Fergie’s married home was a vulgar, red brick mansion called Sunninghill Park, variously known as South York, by way of an allusion to Dallas and Tesco Towers, because it resembled an out-of-town superstore.
Now Fergie is “sofa surfing” across Europe and juggling burner phones like an extra in The Night Manager, while Andy is kicking his heels in Norfolk.
I can’t see Andrew having a rich internal life to fall back on in times of existential need. He’s more oik than intellectual, after all.
Is it true that he has been banned from riding by royal aides after press photos emerged of him smiling and waving as a slew of awful allegations were made? As he’s not got much else going on, that sounds very punitive, but Edward and Anne will keep an eye on him and speak up if necessary.
Human and humane. Caring, not condoning. And somehow reassuring to discover that, ultimately, our Royal family is a loyal family.
‘ The preceding article may include information circulated by third parties ’
‘ Some details of this article were extracted from the following source www.telegraph.co.uk ’
