EXCLUSIVE: Former royal butler Grant Harrold has described Wooden Farm cottage on the Sandringham property, the place Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor is presently staying
Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor is presently staying at Wooden Farm (Picture: Karwai Tang, WireImagevia Getty Photos)
Disgraced royal Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor, has not been noticed outdoors Wooden Farm, positioned on the Royal Household’s Sandringham property, since his sudden arrest on February 19.
Wooden Farm Cottage was a favorite of Andrew’s late father Prince Philip, who resided there following his retirement from public duties in 2017. Nonetheless, for the previous Duke of York, it serves merely as a brief residence while close by Marsh Farm undergoes refurbishment.
In line with Robert Hardman of the Every day Mail, Andrew is much much less keen on the charming cottage than his father was and has “finished nothing however complain since he bought there.”
Nonetheless, talking completely to Attain PLC, ex-royal butler Grant Harrold acknowledged that Wooden Farm is “the sort of place many people would dream of residing in.”
The five-bedroom property in Wolferton, located on the Sandringham Property, is roughly two miles from the principle Sandringham Home.
The farm was besieged by reporters and photographers within the wake of Andrew’s arrest (Picture: AFP through Getty Photos)
The house underwent important renovations, together with a model new kitchen, previous to Prince Philip transferring in. However Grant suggests it is a far cry from the grandeur Andrew can have been accustomed to.
Grant mentioned: “Wooden Farm is a really cute farm home, and the sort of place many people would dream of residing in, nevertheless it’s no Royal Lodge, not by any means.”
He provides: “It had a sitting room and eating room, plus a separate kitchen and a utility room. Prince Philip did a little bit of modification with the late Queen as a result of they used it once they went to Sandringham. They modernised it and it is stunning. It is properly finished. It is simply not what you’d anticipate at [Buckingham] Palace.
“It is bought just a few visitor rooms, so it is small and humble. It’s extremely completely different in scale. I bear in mind being fairly stunned on the backyard, it is fairly plain. It isn’t a home that is ever had a full-time occupant earlier than. I would not class this as a royal house, however I feel that is why a lot of the royals preferred it a lot – it felt much more ‘regular’.”
Wooden Farm is on a secluded a part of the Sandringham Property (Picture: Getty Photos)
He recollects the cottage additionally welcomed youthful members of the Royal Household, together with Prince William and Prince Harry, previous to their dramatic rift in 2018.
Grant says “I went there with Prince William and Harry. Prince Philip used to allow them to go and have the weekends with their buddies, and Kate [Middleton] used to affix them.
“It was enjoyable. Kate used to tackle the function of ‘Girl of the Home’ throughout the visits. She was answerable for organising the meals, organising the company, organising which rooms folks have been in. The late Queen and Prince Philip used to go up there lots, nevertheless it’s very distant. It was Prince Philip’s little escape and he used it very a lot in direction of the top of his life.”
Firefighters lately attended Wooden Farm after a reported false alarm (Picture: Getty)
The cottage serves merely as an interim association for Andrew, with expectations he’ll relocate to the extra substantial Marsh Farm sooner or later. While Marsh Farm would symbolize a fascinating residence for most individuals, Robert Jobson, creator of The Windsor Legacy: A Royal Dynasty of Secrets and techniques, Scandal and Survival, maintains it requires in depth refurbishment.
He advised Vainness Honest: “Not a lot is understood about it. It is fairly boggy, a little bit of a shell. It isn’t completed but.”
It’s believed Andrew will transfer in, presumably by early April, as soon as it has been renovated.
The disgraced royal is anticipated to finally reside at Marsh Farm (Picture: Getty Photos)
The Sandringham property total was bought as a non-public rural sanctuary for the long run Edward VII when he held the title of Albert, Prince of Wales in 1862, subsequently passing by means of successive generations of the Royal Household.
The principal residence is most recognised as the placement the place the royals usually congregate for Christmas. The adjoining Anmer Corridor features as Prince William and his spouse Catherine’s countryside residence all through the varsity summer season break.
Andrew was arrested on suspicion of misconduct in a public workplace on the day of his 66th birthday final Thursday. He has been launched below investigation and continues to disclaim any wrongdoing with regards his affiliation with Jeffrey Epstein.
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