A man wearing a balaclava was apprehended for reportedly making threats towards Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor near his new residence on the King’s Sandringham estate in Norfolk. The individual is said to have confronted the former prince while he was walking his dogs around 7:30pm the previous evening.
Allegedly, the man leaped out of a vehicle and yelled, leading the former Duke of York and a member of his private security team to quickly retreat to their nearby car. Mountbatten-Windsor, who no longer receives state-funded police protection since losing his royal title earlier this year, and his companions fled as the suspect pursued them down a lane outside the Sandringham Royal Parkland.
Law enforcement was alerted, resulting in the man’s arrest at the scene for further interrogation. Authorities have confirmed that the incident is not linked to terrorism and are investigating the possibility that the suspect may have an unhealthy fixation on the former royal.
Witness statements have been gathered, including those from the former Duke of York and his personal security detail. Mountbatten-Windsor, who was stripped of his royal title and associated privileges in 2022 amid legal proceedings with Virginia Giuffre, does not benefit from state-funded police protection anymore.
Following his title removal, his military honors and royal affiliations were returned to his late mother, Queen Elizabeth. As confirmed by Westminster Security, a private firm founded by a former Royal Military Police protection officer, Andrew lost his entitlement to royal protection from the UK’s Royalty and Specialist Protection RASP when he withdrew from public duties.
While residing in a temporary abode near Marsh Farm, undergoing renovations before his permanent move, the disgraced ex-Duke’s previous home near Windsor Castle had stringent security measures in place. Despite Sandringham being a private estate not designated as an official royal residence, security arrangements put in place by Charles, inherited from the late Queen, safeguard Andrew. The estate spans 20,000 acres, with limited public access.
Flight restrictions were enforced over the area following security service requests after drones were observed flying over the estate during Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky’s visit.