Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor will not be joining the Royal Family at their traditional summer retreat in the Scottish Highlands, as King Charles is understood to have “no plans” to meet with his younger brother during the holiday period.
The former Duke of York, who has been residing on the Sandringham Estate since April, is not expected at Balmoral Castle when the wider family gathers for their annual break, The Times reports.
A source with knowledge of the King’s thinking told the newspaper that Andrew appearing alongside other royals would raise “considerable sensitivities.”
Whether the former prince has been formally forbidden from attending the Scottish estate remains unclear.
Royal sources describe Andrew as having “settled” into his Norfolk existence, far removed from the family fold.
King Charles stripped his younger brother of both his prince title and dukedom owing to his connections to convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein.
Andrew has consistently denied any wrongdoing.
In February, he was evicted from Royal Lodge, the Windsor residence he had called home for some 20 years.
That same month brought his arrest on suspicion of misconduct in public office. He was ultimately released under investigation.
He subsequently took up residence at Marsh Farm, a five-bedroom farmhouse situated on the King’s Sandringham Estate in Norfolk, where he has lived since April.
Since his February arrest, the brothers have not met. Andrew has seldom been spotted around the grounds of the sprawling country estate, maintaining a conspicuously low profile as legal and public scrutiny has intensified around him.
Despite his reclusive existence, Andrew has carved out a quiet routine in Norfolk, occupying himself with solitary dog walks and drives around the countryside.
Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor on a horse | Source: REUTERS
His most notable appearance came on June 30, when he ventured out publicly for the first time since his exile began.
He was seen at the Sandringham Horse Driving Trials alongside his brother Prince Edward and Duchess Sophie, before departing in his Land Rover Defender.
More recently, earlier this month, photographs published by The Sun captured him on horseback near his Norfolk home, wearing a protective helmet during an hour-long ride around the estate.
The outing was particularly striking given reports that he had been “banned” from riding — a restriction he appeared content to disregard.
Balmoral Castle has served as the Royal Family’s cherished summer sanctuary ever since Queen Victoria and Prince Albert purchased the property in 1852.
The sprawling 50,000-acre Highland estate offers the family a place for outdoor pursuits and countryside walks away from the pressures of public life.
Under the present monarch, the grounds are undergoing significant renewal.
The estate’s own website describes a “time of transformation,” with the King and Queen Camilla pursuing a vision to open Balmoral to the public in unprecedented ways.
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