An Express reporter was chased by the late Queen's corgis and confronted by security while attempting to deliver a right-to-reply letter to Prince Andrew at his Norfolk home on the Sandringham Estate.
The reporter, Zak Garner-Purkis, described the dogs as "manically aggressive and dishevelled," a far cry from the docile creatures that used to follow the late Queen. He realised they were the royal corgis when they chased him across the lawn of Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor's residence.
As he turned to ring the bell, a blacked-out 4X4 screeched around the drive, throwing up pebbles. The men inside were Andrew's security team and wanted to speak with him.
Investigation into Epstein Links
The visit followed a summer trip to the USA to investigate the King's brother's relationship with the convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein. In Palm Beach, locals told the reporter the scandal was an open secret. When he attempted to visit an elite country club where the pair allegedly met, security called the police after a spokesperson said he could neither "confirm nor deny" the information.
The reporter also tracked down Virginia Giuffre's ex-boyfriend, Tony Figueroa, who claimed Giuffre made a desperate call from London, telling him "they're going to make me have sex with Prince Andrew" — an allegation Andrew has consistently and emphatically denied.
The trip concluded in the US Virgin Islands, where the reporter saw the impact of the scandal on the local community and swam in the waters around Epstein Island.
Delivering the Letter
After Andrew had his Royal titles stripped, the Palace stopped handling media requests on his behalf. A Gmail account for inquiries never received a reply, and recent messages bounced back. The reporter decided to deliver the questions in person, compiling a detailed right-of-reply letter on Express letterhead and travelling to King's Lynn with a videographer.
Upon arrival, the taxi driver questioned whether they were sure about getting out, and the reporter felt unnerved from the outset. A cottage on the spot seemed too modest to be the former Duke of York's home, until the corgis came racing out and a security vehicle pulled up.
The security team, two former police officers, inspected his press card, took a photo of it, and accepted the letter. They warned him he was on private land and suggested he reconsider any footage filmed.
Security and Surveillance Concerns
The reporter felt the comment was intended as a threat, fearing the loss of crucial footage that records both findings and how they were obtained. The car followed them and later reappeared, driving in the opposite direction, suggesting they remained under surveillance until they returned to King's Lynn.
The reporter acknowledged that Sandringham is a high-profile target, but questioned whether Andrew, now a private citizen, should receive such protection from media scrutiny. He argued that journalists should be able to ask questions in the public interest, and that the British public deserves more answers given Andrew's history of scandal.
The reporter extended an open offer for an interview, noting that "your dogs and your security already know who I am."
