Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor has been settling into his new life of rural seclusion on the Sandringham estate with the help of an early morning delivery of food from Waitrose.
A van from the up-market supermarket chain was spotted shortly after dawn on Friday as it went down the 300 yard long driveway to Wood Farm where the disgraced former prince has been staying since Monday.
The Waitrose driver remained at the five-bedroom farmhouse in the village of Wolferton for around 15 minutes, far longer than the delivery slot for normal households, suggesting that multiple boxes of food were being unloaded.
Waitrose received a Royal warrant from King Charles in May 2024 and is also known to be the favourite supermarket of other Royals including the Princess of Wales when she is in Norfolk.
Andrew has not been seen in public since he arrived under cover of darkness on Monday at Wood Farm which was once the retirement home of his late father Prince Philip.
A well-place source said he appeared to be in good spirits while making himself at home with several of his dogs which are thought to include two of his late mother’s beloved Corgis, and his own cook to prepare meals for him.
The source said: ‘He was smiling when I saw him. He seems happy enough, and has his dogs with him.’
It was revealed after the late Queen’s death in 2022, that Andrew had inherited her corgis Muick and Sandy which she had when she died, despite him and his ex-wife Sarah who lived with him, already having five Norfolk terriers of their own.
Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor pictured Royal Windsor Horse Show in Windsor Great Park on May 12, 2017. The ex-Duke appears to be settling into his new life on the Sandringham estate with the help of one particular supermarket chain
A Waitrose van was spotted shortly after dawn on Friday as it went down the 300 yard long driveway to Wood Farm where the disgraced former prince has been staying since Monday
The Waitrose van can be seen making it way towards the five-bedroom farmhouse in the village of Wolferton, where it remained for around 15 minutes
It was seen returning back down the driveway some time later – suggesting that multiple boxes of food had been unloaded
Buckingham Palace released a statement last October confirming that the late Queen’s dogs would ‘remain with the family’ following news that Andrew was being ordered out of his palatial 30-room mansion home Royal Lodge at Windsor due to a series of scandals including his friendship with paedophile Jeffrey Epstein.
But it was not clarified whether it would be Andrew, Sarah, or their daughters Princess Beatrice and Princess Eugenie who would continue to give the Corgis a home.
It was reported this week that estate staff had been given the option of not working for Andrew, but a number of them have been seen driving in and out of Wood Farm in recent days.
Andrew had been expected to remain at Royal Lodge for several more weeks, but is thought to have been told by his brother King Charles to leave earlier than expected following the latest drop of Jeffrey Epstein files in the United States
He has not been seen in public since his arrival at Sandringham, although the sound of shotgun blasts from farmland at the rear of his farmhouse on Wednesday, suggested he might have gone out shooting.
It now appears that he could be set to live permanently at Wood Farm after an apparent climbdown by his brother King Charles who had earmarked another home for him on the estate.
Andrew had been expected to only stay at Wood Farm for a few weeks until the completion of renovation work at Marsh Farm around half a mile away, readying it to be his forever home.
But he is said to have complained that Marsh Farm was unsuitable for him over security and privacy issues due to it standing beside a public road, allowing onlookers to peer into the windows.
Andrew will be moved into the five-bedroom house, Marsh Farm (pictured), on the Sandringham Estate permanently
For the meantime, the former Prince is staying in Wood Farm (pictured) which was once the retirement home of his late father Prince Philip.
A sign at the entrance to Wood Farm on the Sandringham Estate in Norfolk, where Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor is reported to be staying temporarily
A tractor loaded with foliage leaves the private lane leading to Wood Farm on Thursday
Work to upgrade Marsh Farm with new outside security cameras, Sky television cabling and a six foot high fence got underway last month after the property which is owned by the estate, had stood empty for many years following the death of a previous tenant.
But the Mail on Sunday can reveal that the work has since come to an abrupt halt with no signs of activity there for more than a week, and the fence left half-built on only one side of the front garden.
Instead builders and ground workers have been working all this week at Wood Farm, giving the impression that the King is allowing Andrew to live there full time, and has stepped back from forcing him into Marsh Farm.
Vans and flat bed trucks from two firms of local builders have been seen going in and out of Wood Farm all week. At least one mobile toilet has also been delivered to the farm for workers to use, and truck loads of soil have been seen being transported away.
Andrew is thought to have favoured Wood Farm due to it being hidden away and screened from the road by a belt of trees and bushes, making it much more private than Marsh Farm.
Other members of the Royal household are also thought to have expressed concerns that a move into Marsh Farm would be a step too far, prompting the King to have a change of heart to keep him happy.
Local villagers have expressed concern about Andrew’s arrival, fearing that his presence will bring unwanted attention to sleepy Wolferton which has no shop or pub.
Many are reluctant to say anything, due to being tenants of houses on the estate owned by the King which all have their front doors painted in a duck egg blue colour to differentiate them from privately-owned homes.
Removal vans seen outside Royal Lodge on Wednesday, where Andrew and Sarah Ferguson have lived for the past two decades
A removals van leaves the gates of Royal Lodge in Windsor Great Park on Wednesday
A storage van leaves the gates of Royal Lodge in Windsor Great Park, now the former home of Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor, on Wednesday
But one said this week: ‘He is not very popular and I don’t see why we should be lumbered with him. He is just going to attract a load of media attention and put Wolferton on the map for all the wrong reasons.’
Fake official notices headed ‘Public Safety Announcement’ and warning of Andrew’s presence ‘in the area’ alongside his picture and claims about his links to Epstein were also stuck on to at least two signs around Sandringham on Thursday.
The notices which appeared at the entrance to the estate’s caravan site and on a nearby road sign were swiftly removed. It is not known who put them up.
Wood Farm has long been a favourite retreat of the Royal family and was often used by the late Queen and Prince Philip for quiet weekend stays, away from the formality of Sandringham House.
The farmhouse has also been used for many years as a spot for Royal shooting parties to relax and have lunch before heading back out to blast more pheasants out of the sky.
If Andrew does stay there full time, it might mean that shooting parties no longer visit the farmhouse, but there are at least two large huts around the estate which can be used instead for lunchtime stops.
Andrew will have plenty of opportunity to continue his hobby of horse riding at Sandringham, as it has several stables as well as two stud farms.
There are also plenty of areas where he can ride without being seen, in contrast to his outings on horseback at Windsor in recent years when he was often photographed.
‘Public safety announcements’ warning locals Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor has moved to the area have been posted around his new Sandringham Estate home
Another poster featuring the former Prince has been installed on a sign leading to the parking area of the Sandringham Estate
The posters warn of Andrew’s presence ‘in the area’ alongside his picture and claims about his links to Epstein
There is also a private track at the rear of Wood Farm, giving access to a number of different exits to public roads, making it possible for him to slip in and out without being seen.
A strict no-fly zone imposed by the Civil Aviation Authority over parts of the estate including Wood Farm means he will also escape scrutiny by drones.
Wood Farm became the retirement home of Prince Philip from when he stepped down from public duties in 2017 until he moved to Windsor during the Covid pandemic in March 2020.
The fact that it has remained in regular use by the Royals for many years, suggests that it is in a good state of repair and décor.
It is surrounded by fields used by the estate for grazing sheep and growing organic crops, giving the former prince plenty of opportunity to go on long walks to come to terms with his new life.
The area is rich in wildlife and backs on to the windswept foreshore of The Wash which is a world away from the pristine beaches of his late paedophile friend Jeffrey Epstein’s private island Little Saint James in the US Virgin Islands where he was once a regular guest.
His home is also a three mile walk across fields to the brackish lagoons, salt marshes and shingle beaches of the RSPB reserve at Snettisham, should he develop an interest in bird watching.
The world-renowned reserve is famous for its annual Snettisham Spectacular between September and April when massive flocks of up to 120,000 waders—mainly Knot, Dunlin, Oystercatchers, and Bar-tailed Godwits—gather during high tides.
St Peter’s church in Wolferton, on the Sandringham Estate
The late Queen Elizabeth II and Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor attend Sunday Service at St Peter’s Church in Wolferton on January 20, 2019
Winter visitors to the reserve which is famous for its sunsets also include thousands of Pink-footed Geese, while breeding birds at the spot include Avocets, Common Terns, and Black-headed Gulls.
If Andrew decides he wants to turn to religion, he could also attend services at the imposing St Peter’s church at Wolferton at the top of the driveway to Wood Farm.
The church was a favourite of the late Queen who visited at least once every three years during her traditional Christmas and New Year break at Sandringham. The King and Camilla also went to a service at the church two-weeks-ago when they arrived there in his new bespoke Lotus Eletre electric SUV.
Wolferton previously had a railway station, used by members of the Royal family to travel to and from Sandringham between 1862 and 1965. The station buildings have been converted into homes.
Wood Farm was also the home of Prince John, the youngest son of George V and Queen Mary, who had epilepsy and learning difficulties.
He was sent to live in the farmhouse with his beloved governess to shield him from the public gaze, but he regularly saw his grandmother, Queen Alexandra, who was living at Sandringham. He died at Wood Farm in 1919 aged just 13.
Prince John’s tragic story was turned into an Emmy award-winning BBC drama, called The Lost Prince, in 2003.
