Andrew Mountbatten Windsor could set up home in this £10million luxury villa on the Abu Dhabi royal family‘s fortified estate – with The Mail on Sunday able to provide a behind-the-scenes look at the opulent marble finishes.
The lavish property sits in the Sea Palace compound – the heavily guarded residence of the UAE’s ruling family – alongside the headquarters of the Emirati navy.
Andrew, 65, was offered use of the waterfront home by president Sheik Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nayhan, whom he met when they were pupils at Gordonstoun School.
Sheik Mohamed ordered a refurbishment of a private villa within the complex following the death of Queen Elizabeth II.
Designers said the refurbished villa aimed to blend classical grandeur with a ‘youthful and playful’ interior – using bold colours and those marble finishes to modernise the ‘palace-style’ home.
The six-bedroom property, with a home cinema, indoor plunge pool and gym, offers the disgraced former prince the chance to live away from the media spotlight.
A particularly large kitchen is staffed by cordon bleu cooks, with fittings such as light switches, lamps and taps decorated in gold.
When the Sea Palace, built in the 18th century as a watchtower to protect from seaborne raiders, was put at Andrew’s disposal in 2010, Buckingham Palace was keen to stress it was not an outright gift.
Andrew Mountbatten Windsor, 65, (right) has been offered use of a waterfront home by UAE president Sheik Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nayhan (pictured left)
The six-bedroom property, with a home cinema, indoor plunge pool and gym, offers the disgraced former prince the chance to live away from the media spotlight
The lavish property sits in the Sea Palace compound – the heavily guarded residence of the UAE’s ruling family – alongside the headquarters of the Emirati navy
Andrew Lownie, author of Entitled: The Rise and Fall of the House of York, said it was ‘perfect for Andrew’: ‘He would be happy living somewhere where the media is muzzled, where he will still be treated as a senior royal and where he can easily live under the radar.
‘His personal relationships with young women are not likely to be scrutinised in Abu Dhabi.
‘There has been much speculation Andrew might divide his time between Britain and the UAE, using this property as his base.’
It is believed the villa has been extensively used in the past by both Andrew and his daughters, Princesses Beatrice and Eugenie.
The prospect of Andrew embarking on a life in exile in the Gulf is the culmination of many years’ friendship with Sheik Mohamed, 64, who is known as ‘MBZ’.
He began visiting Abu Dhabi when he was the UK’s Special Representative for International Trade and Investment from 2001 until forced to quit ten years later due to his friendship with paedophile Jeffrey Epstein.
He met his one-time girlfriend, businesswoman Amanda Staveley, there in 2001 – she reportedly turned down a marriage proposal.
It is believed the villa has been extensively used in the past by both Andrew and his daughters, Princesses Beatrice and Eugenie
He was said to have romanced Lebanese-born Christina Keserwan, 17 years his junior, in 2002 when she had a role in MBZ’s racehorse team.
If he does move, Spain’s former king Juan Carlos, who abdicated in 2014 after a scandal linked to deals in Saudi Arabia, will be a neighbour.
Andrew’s ex-wife Sarah Ferguson is said to be considering quitting the UK.
A source said: ‘Aside from her children and grandchildren, there’s not a lot to keep her here. Put it this way, the invitations have dried up overnight.’
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