Prince Andrew today embarked on his weekly ride around the Windsor estate, just hours before a documentary examining his financial burdens is due to broadcast.
The King’s brother, 64, appeared pensive as he travelled around Windsor Great Park on Saturday, joined by a groom who regularly accompanies him on rides.
The prince staved off the cold in a navy riding jacket and thick gloves, with a pair of matching blue jodhpurs and riding boots completing his ensemble.
And, as ever, Andrew wore his riding helmet – which features a reflective stripe.
Andrew’s weekly trott around the Windsor Estate comes just hours before the broadcast of a new Channel 5 series – Prince Andrew: Where Did All The Money Go?
The documentary questions Prince Andrew’s financial burdens, and examines how they have shaped his life as he struggles to maintain his lavish lifestyle.
It also explores ‘revelations about Andrew’s ties to an alleged Chinese spy, shedding light on potential financial and diplomatic entanglements’, the broadcaster said.
‘At the centre of this story is Royal Lodge, Andrew’s expansive residence in Windsor, with its known annual costs estimated at more than half a million pounds.
Prince Andrew today embarked on his weekly ride around the Windsor estate, just hours before a documentary examining his financial burdens is due to broadcast
‘Despite his claims of a legitimate income to sustain his living arrangements, the recent decision by King Charles to cut off Andrew’s reported £1million yearly allowance raises questions about how he intends to fund his residence and future.’
Andrew’s outing comes just weeks after he was urged to ‘do the right thing’ and uninvite himself from the Royal Family’s Christmas lunch after his alleged decade-long friendship with an alleged Chinese spy was uncovered.
Yang Tengbo is said to have become a ‘close’ confidant of the Duke of York and has since been banned from entering the UK after an MI5 investigation.
Mr Tengbo has denied being a spy or doing anything illegal. He challenged his ban at the Special Immigration Appeals Commission (SIAC) in July, but lost his appeal last week.
A statement from Prince Andrew’s office in December said: ‘The Duke of York followed advice from His Majesty’s Government and ceased all contact with the individual after concerns were raised.
‘The Duke met the individual through official channels with nothing of a sensitive nature ever discussed. He is unable to comment further on matters relating to national security.’
The King’s brother, 64, appeared pensive as he travelled around Windsor Great Park on Saturday, joined by a groom who regularly accompanies him on rides
The Daily Mail previously revealed that His Majesty didn’t want to ban his sibling from attending but hoped he might ‘do the decent thing’ and decide to stay away in light of the growing spy scandal.
Andrew and his ex-wife Sarah Ferguson, who still lives with him at Royal Lodge in Windsor Great Park, spent Christmas Day together.
Sarah, who is known commonly as Fergie, is thought to have influenced her ex-husband’s decision to not attend. The pair divorced in 1996 after separating in 1992, but the Duchess has remained close to her ex-husband.
The Mail’s royal editor, Rebecca English said on Palace Confidential at the time: ‘I’ve been told by sources on both sides of the fence that she has been instrumental in just being a small, still voice of calm in her dealings with her ex-husband and I’ve been told that the King does understand it’s a very delicate situation.
‘She has been very loyal to Andrew with all his difficulties over the years, but also to actually be fair to her, has been respectful to the King and the Queen and the late Queen Elizabeth.’