King Charles III is trying to “keep calm and carry on” in the wake of his brother Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor’s arrest, putting on a steadfast display alongside other royals at St James’s Palace. Behind the scenes, major changes are taking place on the monarch’s Sandringham Estate, preparing Marsh Farm for Andrew to move into, and the latest change there has been a further security measure.
New photos, taken on Wednesday 25 February, show that a new six-foot fence behind the existing wooden picket fence with gates has been installed at the front of the property to ensure it is suitably obscured from the road.
There has also been a new notice affixed to one of the posts of the old fence, which reads: “This is a private property and no comment will be made to journalists. Photographers are also not permitted onto these private grounds of the Sandringham estate. Please respect this decision. Failure to comply will be reported to IPSO.”
© PA Images via Getty Images
© Getty ImagesOther security measures
In previous weeks, the property has been secured in various ways including the addition of a six-foot fence at the side of the residence, as well as CCTV cameras and outdoor lights. Charles has added another layer of privacy for Andrew by extending the Sandringham no-fly zone to include Marsh Farm.
While the interior renovations will not be released to the public, it is believed that a whole overhaul is required for the dilapidated farmhouse which was left unused for many years. It is unknown when these works will conclude, but as soon as they do, Andrew will move from Wood Farm, where he is temporarily staying, into his permanent home, Marsh Farm.
© UK Press via Getty ImagesWhy is Andrew living at Sandringham?
With plenty of royal homes up and down the country, it is interesting that King Charles has chosen Sandringham, which is privately owned by the monarch and not the Crown Estate, to house his brother.
© GettyHELLO!’s Royal Editor Emily Nash explains that she believes his way of life won’t be that different despite the major downsize. “His day-to-day life may not actually look all that different from that at Windsor, given he has been living largely out of the public eye since 2019.
“Andrew has often been seen out riding in recent years and that’s something he could easily continue at Sandringham”
“Andrew has often been seen out riding in recent years and that’s something he could easily continue at Sandringham, which is home to the Royal Stud. And as his disastrous Newsnight interview confirmed, he is fond of a ‘straightforward shooting weekend’, so he will have plenty of opportunity to indulge in that sport on the Norfolk Estate.”
Why was Andrew arrested?
© AFP via Getty ImagesThe former Duke of York was arrested on his 66th birthday (19 February) on suspicion of misconduct in public office and released after 11 hours. King Charles’ brother attempted to go incognito when leaving Aylsham Police Station, but he was pictured in the back of a car in a photo that has since gone viral. Investigations are ongoing for the former Prince, and his properties have also been searched in relation to the police enquiry.
