Prince Andrew's Canine Companions Now Exercised by Staff as Former Royal Lives in Seclusion
The canine companions of disgraced Prince Andrew are now being walked exclusively by staff members, as their owner has adopted an increasingly reclusive lifestyle following his dramatic eviction from Royal Lodge. The mixed pack, which includes Andrew's own Norfolk terriers alongside the two famous corgis he inherited from the late Queen Elizabeth II, previously enjoyed regular outings with their owner during his time at Windsor. However, since his forced relocation to a modest farmhouse on the outskirts of the Sandringham estate, the former Duke of York has ceased taking the dogs out personally.
From Personal Walks to Staff-Led Excursions
This week, observers witnessed the dogs being exercised along a pathway beside horse paddocks by a man believed to be part of Andrew's security team. The terriers and corgis now receive twice-daily walks in this manner while Andrew, aged 66, remains indoors, isolated and avoiding public visibility. Following Queen Elizabeth's passing in 2022, her beloved corgis Muick and Sandy were adopted by Andrew and his ex-wife Sarah Ferguson, despite the couple already owning five Norfolk terriers.
Ferguson, who frequently shared social media updates celebrating what she called "national treasures," has not joined Andrew in Norfolk. Instead, she has retreated to undisclosed international locations, leaving Andrew as the sole caretaker of the dogs during a period when his personal life continues to unravel dramatically.
Enforced Indoor Confinement and Restricted Activities
Andrew's confinement appears partially enforced by royal aides, who have reportedly prohibited him from horse riding across the 20,000-acre Sandringham estate due to concerns about public perception. The former prince, once frequently photographed walking his dogs during visits to his late mother at Balmoral, now appears fearful of being photographed while outdoors. His affection for his pets was previously demonstrated through a humorous 2019 Christmas card featuring one terrier's rear, but such public displays have ceased entirely.
Instead, Andrew spends his days inside Wood Farm with curtains typically drawn, his weekly Waitrose delivery representing one of few anticipated events. Buckingham Palace confirmed last October that the late Queen's dogs would "remain with the family" following Andrew's ordered departure from Royal Lodge, though specific caretaking arrangements were not detailed at that time.
Changing Exercise Locations and Limited Excursions
The corgis were initially walked near Wood Farm shortly after Andrew's covert nighttime arrival over three weeks ago, but have since been exercised at less visible locations along tracks between paddocks and woodland areas. Andrew has ventured from Wood Farm only twice since arriving: first to inspect nearby Marsh Farm, his intended permanent residence, and second when police arrested him on his 66th birthday.
Thames Valley Police detained Andrew on suspicion of misconduct in public office, transporting him forty miles for questioning before releasing him under investigation approximately eleven hours later. This arrest followed revelations in recently released Epstein documents suggesting Andrew may have shared confidential information while serving as UK trade envoy.
Broader Political and Legal Context
King Charles evicted his brother from Royal Lodge hours after Andrew was photographed smiling and waving publicly, despite ongoing controversy regarding his connections to convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein. Parliamentary developments saw MPs support a Liberal Democrat motion calling for transparency regarding Andrew's 2001 trade envoy appointment, with Trade Minister Chris Bryant condemning Andrew's "self-aggrandisement" and "self-enriching hustle."
Meanwhile, former Labour minister Lord Peter Mandelson faces similar allegations, having been arrested and bailed regarding suspected misconduct in public office. Emails from 2009 appear to show Mandelson sharing policy assessments with Epstein, including discussions about banker bonus taxes and euro bailout packages. Both Andrew and Mandelson deny wrongdoing, with investigations continuing as Andrew's dogs receive their daily walks from staff rather than their increasingly isolated owner.
