How 'recluse' Prince Andrew spends his days now following scandal
The Duke of York stepped away from royal duties in 2019Prince Andrew now spends his days rather quietly after scandals forced him to step away from royal duties.
The Duke of York, 65, has faced scrutiny over the years from facing sexual assault allegations, which he has always denied, and settling a court case, to more recent claims he was associated with an alleged spy.
He has since become the subject of a new explosive royal biography by Andrew Lownie, along with his ex-wife, Sarah Ferguson.
Years after stepping away from royal duties, how exactly does Prince Andrew spend his days now? Let’s take a look.
Scandals Prince Andrew has faced over the years
Prince Andrew is no stranger to scandal. In 2022, he settled a legal case out of court with Virginia Giuffre. Giuffre, an alleged victim of the late convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein’s trafficking ring, had accused the royal of sexual assault when she was 17.
The duke, who was said to have previously been friends with Epstein, has always denied the allegations. In 2022, a legal case was settled with Prince Andrew reportedly paying an undisclosed amount to Giuffre as well as making a donation to her charity.
Andrew stepped away from his royal duties in late 2019.
After the settlement of the lawsuit, Andrew lost his honorary military affiliations and royal patronages and has since remained, mostly, out of the royal limelight.
How Prince Andrew spends his days now
According to reports, the Duke of York reportedly spends most of his time at his home, Royal Lodge, located in Windsor Great Park in Berkshire. He moved into the home back in 2004.
He’s also said to ride his horses around the estate as well as play golf. Reports also claim that Andrew has been teaching his granddaughter Sienna, three, how to horse ride.
He barely goes out, he’s not that welcome anywhere.
Former BBC royal correspondent Jennie Bond told OK! in 2024: “Andrew seems to spend most of his time either riding around the huge estate on horseback or reportedly sitting in front of a big screen watching live coverage of planes landing and taking off.”
She also told Channel 5 documentary The Battle for Royal Lodge: Andrew vs Charles: “Andrew is a bit of a recluse now, apparently he spends a great deal of his time either playing video games or most lately watching aircraft take off and land.”
Away from hobbies, Prince Andrew reportedly spends time with his ex-wife Sarah Ferguson, who also lives at Royal Lodge when she’s in the UK, and their daughters Princess Beatrice and Princess Eugenie.
Duke of York has become a ‘recluse’ as he ‘barely goes out’
Meanwhile, sources said Andrew has become “isolated” and “barely” leaves Royal Lodge.
A source told the Daily Mail in December last year: “He [Andrew] just doesn’t have that many friends anymore. He barely goes out, he’s not that welcome anywhere.”
Elsewhere, reports claimed that King Charles was eager to get his younger brother out of Royal Lodge. However, Andrew reportedly wants to remain at the residence.
Royal photographer Arthur Edwards recently told The Sun: “One thing I know about the king is that he is a kind man who was never going to kick his brother and Fergie out of their home, Royal Lodge at Windsor. He’s not that sort of person.”
The Duke and Duchess of York have become the subjects of Andrew Lownie’s new royal biography, Entitled: The Rise and Fall of the House of York.
The book “reveals the extent to which Andrew and Fergie’s lives are still deeply entwined”.
Read more: Sarah Ferguson accused of ‘screaming fits’ at staff reducing them ‘to wrecks’
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