Sandringham is synonymous with Christmas.It’s where the Royal Family put on a united front every year as they walk to St Mary Magdalene Church for the morning prayer service in Norfolk.
Yet the huge estate, which is privately owned by the King, could soon also be known as the place where the monarch maroons his younger brother Andrew Mountbatten Windsor in a bid to quell public discontent.But nearby residents, who are normally proud of their area’s royal connections, aren’t too thrilled.
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Pic: PA
One woman told Sky News: “He’s moving from a nice house to another nice house. I don’t really understand why that’s happening. I know he’s had his titles taken away from him. I don’t really think that’s much of a punishment.”
Another said: “He’s just a disgrace to the family.”The grounds of Sandringham are blanketed in a sea of yellow and deep orange at this time of year as the trees are stripped of their leaves.
Not everyone thinks that Andrew, stripped of his royal titles, should be so publicly shunned.A man, who had been walking in a park, said: “He hasn’t been found guilty of anything, in my view. People forget that he was a war hero in the Falklands. That’s all gone now, isn’t it? Nobody’s thinking that he’s done any good.”
A runner, who had just finished a Parkrun, added: “I think it is quite reasonable for him to move to Sandringham. And I think it’s time the whole thing was resolved – it seems people are probably going to an unreasonable length about this.”Read more:Andrew urged to ‘be a man’ and tell police about his time with EpsteinBrother of Virginia Giuffre praises King over Andrew decision
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Andrew is not expected to move to Sandringham until 2026, avoiding potentially awkward headlines for the Royal Family.”I think he has to go somewhere, but we’d prefer him not to be here, because obviously Sandringham’s a lovely place and he’s going to bring a bad rep to it,” said a woman.
The Palace will be hoping that’s not the case and that Andrew will live a relatively quiet life away from the public when he finally does relocate.The neighbours mostly do too.