Andrew Receives ‘Green Light’ to Date Again ― but the Palace Is ‘Worried’ About What Comes Next
In a move that has stunned royal watchers, Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor is reportedly planning to re-enter the dating scene. Following his eviction from Royal Lodge and the stripping of his titles, the disgraced royal is said to have received the ‘green light’ to move on with his life. The 65-year-old’s fall from grace reached a definitive conclusion this month as removal vans were spotted at his home of 20 years.
Having lost his military honors and official roles due to his links to the late Jeffrey Epstein, Mountbatten-Windsor is now transitioning to a far more modest life at his new residence, tipped to be Marsh Farm, a five-bedroom property on the King’s Sandringham Estate. While the move to what has been described as a ‘ramshackle’ property initially triggered a ‘tantrum’ from the former Prince, insiders suggest he is now looking towards a future independent of the Crown’s strict oversight. The first step on his list is to date again. The Palace, however, is treading carefully.
A source told Closer Magazine, “[Andrew] is even talking about how he wants to get back to dating.” Although the Palace is said to be ‘relieved’ to see him go, his newfound freedom has also left many unsettled. "The royals will be relieved to see him go, but they’ll also be worrying about what he might get up to once he’s off and operating completely on his own terms,” the insider told the outlet.
The move also signals a shift for his ex-wife and longtime housemate, Sarah Ferguson. Though she has remained his most steadfast defender, even stating in an interview with The Sunday Times, "He's the best, a great man with a great heart, and kind," insiders suggest she is also eyeing a lifestyle change. The source noted, “[Fergie] says there’s no reason she can’t throw herself back into the dating game and land a rich man to make the rest of her days a whole lot easier.” As the two are said to be turning a new chapter when it comes to romance, Princess Beatrice would surely be relieved.
Only months ago, reports suggested that Beatrice was losing sleep over her father’s emotional stability. With the loss of his royal standing and the looming eviction from the Grade II-listed property, she reportedly feared that any change in his domestic setup with Ferguson would be the final straw. "She knows her dad would be crushed if Sarah met someone new and fears the thought of being alone will break his heart," the insider told Closer. Even so, despite her worries, the Princess just wanted her “parents to find their own peace.” The insider continued, "They’ve been separated for decades, and clinging to the past isn’t healthy.”
While he might have received the green signal to move ahead with his dating wishes, controversy isn’t leaving Mountbatten-Windsor’s side so soon. As reported by Sky News, new claims from royal biographer Andrew Lownie suggest his ties to Epstein were even more personal than previously disclosed. Lownie alleges that the disgraced royal once skipped his daughter Princess Eugenie’s 11th birthday celebrations at Disneyland to remain at the financier’s Florida beach house. The images of the same soon made their way online, with the former Duke clearly missing from the picture.