Prince Andrew stopped to chat to dog walkers in Windsor today as he headed back from his morning ride – days before he will reportedly lose access to his ten-strong security team who are paid for privately by King Charles.
The Duke of York, 64, drove through the grounds Windsor Castle on Saturday, pausing briefly on the Long Walk to smile at members of the public through his car window.
Before this, the prince had enjoyed a morning ride through the grounds of Windsor Park, wearing a dark grey jacket and his usual black helmet with a white stripe.
After some time in the great outdoors, Prince Andrew drove back to Royal Lodge with a man who could be a member of his soon-to-be-axed security team.
Sources say the King no longer wishes to foot his brother’s security bill.
Prince Andrew stopped to chat to dog walkers in Windsor today as he headed back from his morning ride
The Duke of York, 64, drove through the grounds Windsor Castle on Saturday, pausing briefly on the Long Walk to smile at members of the public through his car window
Andrew lost his publicly-funded protection officers in 2019 when he was ordered to step down as a working member of the royal family amid the Jeffrey Epstein scandal.
The Duke was quietly retired from royal life and stripped of his military titles after being ripped to shreds by Emily Maitlis on BBC Newsnight over his friendship with convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein.
Members of the royal family are typically protected by Metropolitan Police officers but amid the Epstein scandal the late Queen privately paid for a security team to watch over her second son.
The arrangement continued after Her Majesty’s death in 2022, but according to recent reports, King Charles no longer wants to foot his brother’s security bill.
According to The Sun on Sunday, members of Prince Andrew’s ten-strong security team have been told their services will not be needed from November onwards.
It is believed that King Charles is axing Andrew’s protection in a tactical move to force him out of Royal Lodge.
The Duke currently resides in the £30million property on the grounds of Windsor Castle with his ex-wife Sarah Ferguson, lovingly known as Fergie.
An insider told the publication: ‘Everyone is speculating this means the Duke will have to leave the Royal Lodge because what other reason could there be to take his security away?
After some time in the great outdoors, Prince Andrew drove back to Royal Lodge with a man who could be a member of his soon-to-be-axed security team
Sources say King Charles no longer wishes to foot his brother’s security bill
Before this, the prince had enjoyed a morning ride through the grounds of Windsor Park, wearing a dark grey jacket and his usual black helmet with a white stripe
‘They are all working the final weeks of their contract till the end of October. It’s not thought anyone is being lined up to replace them.’
Andrew signed a 75-year lease with the Crown Estate when he moved in to the Royal Lodge in 2003, making an initial payment of £1million.
The agreement included a notional rent of £260,000 a year.
The run-down property is in dire need of repairs and restoration, which is why insiders believe the lodge should be handed back to Crown Estates.
Andrew lost his publicly-funded protection officers in 2019 when he was ordered to step down as a working member of the royal family amid the Jeffrey Epstein scandal
One insider told The Sun: ‘It could then be rented to earn money for them, the King’s coffers and the country rather than being a drain on everyone’s resources.’
Sources say that the King may even cut off the £4million a year he pays his younger brother in order to oust him from the 30-room lodge in Windsor Great Park.
Instead of Royal Lodge, King Charles reportedly wishes Andrew and Fergie to live in the more modest five-bed Frogmore Cottage – which once belonged to Harry and Meghan before they left the UK.
Buckingham Palace declined to confirm the reports.