Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor may no longer be a prince, but his craving for the lifestyle befitting the brother of the King appears as big as ever. Although he has downsized from the 31-room Royal Lodge in Windsor to a five-bed cottage on the Sandringham Estate, his taste for luxury and lavishness has not dimmed. The shocking revelations from the New Year release of the Epstein Files by US officials paint a picture of Andrew as a man attracted to the rich and powerful—like paedophile Jeffrey Epstein.
Arrest and Ongoing Investigation
In February, Andrew was left humiliated when arrested at his new Sandringham home by Thames Valley Police on suspicion of misconduct in a public office. He strenuously denies any wrongdoing, and investigations continue. That haunting photograph of Andrew returning home after eight hours of police interviews was broadcast across the globe. Since then, he has been holed up in his cottage with few visitors.
Luxurious Trip to France
But now a new report claims he enjoyed a luxurious three-day trip to the MAB Stables near St Malo, in Brittany, France, courtesy of Dubai-based horse breeding magnate and businessman Mohammed A Baker. The respected billionaire tycoon, 38, is the CEO of brand and retail conglomerate Gulf Marketing Group (GMG), a family business founded by his father Abdulaziz Hassan Baker in 1978. The trip came after it was revealed that Palace aides banned Andrew from horse riding, effectively making him housebound with his seven dogs for company, two of which belonged to his late mother Queen Elizabeth II.
King Charles's Position
King Charles is not thought to have visited Andrew in person since his arrest, which is understandable considering the monarch's brother is still under an active police probe. But optics are everything, and you would have thought the idea of Andrew exiting Royal Lodge was to allow him to vanish with some form of dignity while matters play out for the rest of the Royal Family. You can imagine palace insiders suggesting he keep his head down, lay low, and wait for the police investigation to conclude. One palace insider remarked, "I can't imagine he was told: 'But if you fancy a three-day jolly to a billionaire's ranch - go for it!'"
Details of the Trip
During his free trip to France three weeks ago, Andrew allegedly rode horses on the beach, played games of boules, and was fed meals prepared by a private chef. French racehorse trainer Arthur Desprez claimed Andrew had a bodyguard with him and saw them riding horses together.
Lack of Sympathy for Epstein Victims
Andrew has yet to offer his own sympathy to the many victims of convicted US pervert Jeffrey Epstein, despite other royals showing theirs. For example, in February Prince William and Princess Catherine said their thoughts remained "focused on the victims," and Prince Edward stressed it is important to "always remember the victims." While in March, Queen Camilla said "we stand with you in solidarity" to all sexual abuse survivors across the world in a speech at St James Palace. Perhaps PR-wise, it would be a better look for Andrew to tick the box alongside 'Offer my own words of sympathy for those abused by Jeffrey Epstein' before ticking the box 'Have a fantastic luxury freebie break'.
