King Charles Closes Parts of His Sandringham Home for Easter Amid Andrew Scandal
Amid Andrew's relocation to Marsh Farm, Sandringham Estate has closed its Restaurant & Terrace and facilities at the Visitor Center during Easter.
After Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor's many scandals became public, King Charles has borne much of the fallout for the monarchy. Following the former prince's arrest and his impending relocation to Marsh Farm, the King has restricted access to parts of the Sandringham Estate during the Easter period. In a social media statement, the Estate announced the closure of its Restaurant & Terrace and facilities at the Visitor Center, apologizing for any inconvenience caused to visitors.
In a statement released, the Estate said, "March Temporary Closure Notice: The Sandringham Restaurant & Terrace will be closed from Monday 16th to Wednesday 18th March inclusive." It continued, "All facilities at the Visitor Centre (Restaurant, Terrace & Shop) will be closed on Tuesday 24th March. St Mary Magdalene Church will be closed on Thursday, 26th March. We apologise for any inconvenience this may cause." Sandringham has recently been in the spotlight for all the wrong reasons, as renovation continues at Mountbatten-Windsor's Marsh Farm after he was asked to vacate Royal Lodge. Following his exit from Royal Lodge, he was temporarily housed in Wood Farm, where he was arrested for allegedly leaking confidential government information to Jeffrey Epstein.
While Mountbatten-Windsor's moving date has not been confirmed, it is assumed that he will be moving into Marsh Farm in April, as a new gate was installed in the middle of a six-foot fence last week. As reported by HELLO!, he has also revamped his security, adding a double layer of protection when he erected a large fence in front of an old country swinging gate. The tall double-doored gate will only allow the roof of the home to be visible outside the Wolferton property. He has also sourced many red carpets from the family-run company Linney Cooper, which holds a Royal Warrant.
The Sandringham Estate is known for its rich history, as it was originally built in 1870 for the then–Prince of Wales, Albert Edward, who purchased it in 1862 as a country retreat for himself and his new wife, Princess Alexandra of Denmark. Currently, it is where the royal family retreats every year for Christmas. The late Queen Elizabeth adored Sandringham and reportedly began the tradition of celebrating the December holidays with her family there. Interestingly, The Daily Beast reports that the estate has a reputation for being haunted, with staff claiming unexplained noises, cold drafts, and ghostly footsteps.
Meanwhile, Charles has taken similar steps before, closing parts of his home to the public. Ahead of the Heritage Concert last August, Sandringham Estate had announced on Instagram, "The Sandringham Estate will be closed to general visitors from 14th–17th August for Heritage Live's concert series. This includes our Visitor Centre car parks and Courtyard facilities (including our café and restaurant). We look forward to welcoming visitors back from the 18th August onwards." At the time, it had hosted performances by artists such as Mariah Carey, Pet Shop Boys, Michael Bublé, and Stereophonics.
