Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor has been photographed behind the wheel of a brand new, top-of-the-range Land Rover Defender, valued at approximately £75,000. The vehicle is believed to have been provided to him free of charge as part of a longstanding royal arrangement with Jaguar Land Rover.
Luxury Vehicle Arrives Amid Royal Isolation
The 65-year-old former Duke of York took delivery of the luxury 4x4 just before what is expected to be his final Christmas at the 30-room Royal Lodge in Windsor. He was pictured driving the vehicle through the estate gates over the weekend, and again on Boxing Day, followed by what appeared to be a royal security detail in a new Land Rover Discovery.
The car is so new it was only registered with the DVLA earlier this month. The arrangement stems from a Royal Warrant first granted to the carmaker by King George VI in 1951, which was recently renewed by Queen Camilla. As part of this 74-year-old deal with the Tata Motors-owned business, royals are loaned a fleet of vehicles and sometimes test new models before public release.
Fresh Controversy Over Titles and Perks
Andrew's acquisition of the high-end Defender is poised to reignite criticism, given that King Charles has stripped him of all his military affiliations and royal patronages. The perk continues despite his withdrawal from public duties following the scandal surrounding his association with the convicted paedophile Jeffrey Epstein.
Sources indicate the prince has spent much of his time isolated inside Royal Lodge, watching television and leaving primarily to ride horses. 2025 is slated to be his last Christmas at the Windsor residence, with a likely move to Marsh Farm on the King's Sandringham estate in Norfolk.
New Epstein Allegations Cast a Long Shadow
The sighting of Andrew's new car coincides with the publication of a tranche of new court documents related to the Epstein case. The files, released by the US Department of Justice, contain unverified allegations from a 35-year-old individual who claims to have been subjected to abuse at so-called 'paedophile ring parties' involving high-profile UK figures.
Among the disturbing claims, the individual alleges they were once taken to Frogmore Cottage, where Ghislaine Maxwell restrained and tortured them with electric shocks while Andrew and other men watched. In a separate alleged incident, the individual reported being hit by a car driven by Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor after a party in Surrey. Surrey Police stated they have no record of the allegation but are seeking further information.
The documents also include emails from 2001 between Maxwell and a person signed 'A', who asks: "Have you found me some new inappropriate friends?" and discusses plans for "two-legged sight seeing". Speculation has mounted that 'A' could be Andrew, though he has repeatedly denied any wrongdoing.
This stands in stark contrast to his daughters, Princess Beatrice and Princess Eugenie, who were invited to join the King and Queen at Sandringham for Christmas. The royal family's long-standing connection to Land Rover endures, from the late Queen's ownership of around 30 vehicles to Prince George being photographed on a Defender for his eighth birthday. Jaguar Land Rover declined to comment on the arrangement with Andrew.
