Ex-Prince Andrew Was “Smuggled Out of Royal Lodge” in Move That Insiders Call “Not a Good Look”

His relocation to the Sandringham estate "can’t come soon enough to get him away from Windsor."

Britain's Prince Andrew, Duke of York leaves after attending the Easter Matins service at St George's Chapel at Windsor Castle, in Windsor on April 20, 2025. (Photo by Kirsty Wigglesworth / POOL / AFP) (Photo by KIRSTY WIGGLESWORTH/POOL/AFP via Getty Images)
(Image credit: Getty Images)
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Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor was spotted for the first time since his title-stripping scandal on Monday, November 17, and his horseback riding outing on the Windsor Castle estate is said to have ruffled some royal feathers. The former prince went riding with a female groom for about 45 minutes on Monday, according to the Daily Mail, but what would've been a regular pastime for Andrew reportedly became a covert operation.

Per the publication, the former Duke of York was "smuggled out of Royal Lodge, apparently ducking out of sight in the back seat of a car, and driven straight to Windsor Castle to take out a horse from the Royal Mews." After his ride, it's understood Andrew traveled back to his home "the same way in his car to avoid detection."

On October 30, Buckingham Palace announced that King Charles had stripped Andrew of his titles and honors and served him with an eviction notice to leave his longtime home, Royal Lodge. But his outing on Monday was the first proof that the former duke was still living on the Windsor estate—a move that a royal insider said was "really not a good look."

Prince Andrew riding a horse in London with a woman

Prince Andrew is seen riding in London in April 2024.

(Image credit: Getty Images)

"The King won’t be happy that his brother has been photographed riding in the grounds of Windsor Castle, which after all is funded by the taxpayer," a source told the Daily Mail. And as the outlet pointed out, Prince William and Princess Kate would hardly be pleased to see him "happily riding" in Windsor.

The Wales family moved to their new "forever home," Forest Lodge, earlier this month, which is located just about a mile from Royal Lodge. "Catherine shudders at the thought of living so close to Royal Lodge while Prince Andrew is still in it," a source previously told the Mail on Sunday.

Britain's Prince Andrew, Duke of York, attends Sunday service at the Royal Chapel of All Saints, at Royal Lodge, in Windsor on April 11, 2021, two days after the death of his father Britain's Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh. - Queen Elizabeth II has described feeling a "huge void in her life" following the death of her husband Prince Philip, their son Prince Andrew said on April 11. Andrew, the couple's second son, said following family prayers at Windsor Castle that his mother was "contemplating" her husband's passing after his death on April 9 aged 99. (Photo by Steve Parsons / POOL / AFP) (Photo by STEVE PARSONS/POOL/AFP via Getty Images)

Andrew is seen at the Royal Chapel of All Saints at his longtime home, Royal Lodge, in 2021.

(Image credit: Getty Images)

Buckingham Palace has not stated where Andrew will be living specifically, other than he will moving to a home on the Sandringham estate. The 20,000-acre property is located about a three-hour drive from Windsor and is owned privately by the monarch, making it an ideal choice for Andrew since there will be no taxpayer money involved in housing him.

"That move to Sandringham can’t come soon enough to get him away from Windsor," a royal insider told the Daily Mail.

Kristin Contino
Kristin Contino
Senior Royal and Celebrity Editor

Kristin Contino is Marie Claire's Senior Royal and Celebrity editor. She's been covering royalty since 2018—including major moments such as the Platinum Jubilee, Queen Elizabeth II’s death and King Charles III's coronation—and places a particular focus on the British Royal Family's style and what it means.

Prior to working at Marie Claire, she wrote about celebrity and royal fashion at Page Six Style and covered royalty from around the world as chief reporter at Royal Central. Kristin has provided expert commentary for outlets including the BBC, Sky News, US Weekly, the Today Show and many others.

Kristin is also the published author of two novels, “The Legacy of Us” and “A House Full of Windsor.” She's passionate about travel, history, horses, and learning everything she can about her favorite city in the world, London.