The Duke of York reportedly made a significant demand of his elder brother, King Charles III, shortly before his arrest, a move said to have caused immediate tension within the family.
Prince Andrew was released from police custody on Thursday evening after being arrested on suspicion of misconduct in public office. The arrest stemmed from allegations that he shared confidential government documents with Jeffrey Epstein.
Andrew, who turned 66 on the same day, spent several hours being questioned by detectives from Thames Valley Police before being released.
In the days leading up to his arrest, royal commentator Rob Shuter claims Andrew made a firm request as plans were underway for him to relocate within the Sandringham Estate. According to an insider, Andrew insisted that his favourite horses be moved with him to the Norfolk property.
“Everything else was being stripped away,” one source said. “The horses were the last piece of control he had.”
That demand reportedly caused friction almost immediately. Sources say Sandringham currently stables only racehorses, not private riding horses, meaning any arrangement would require additional staff, enhanced security, and further costs.
“You don’t just move a few horses,” one insider explained. “You move grooms, vets, security protocols. It becomes an ongoing expense.”
Another source described a growing sense of frustration behind the scenes. “There was a feeling of, ‘How much more are we expected to absorb?’”
Even as legal pressure mounted, Andrew appeared focused on maintaining personal comforts. A source close to the situation told Shuter that Andrew was thinking about “riding routes, not legal defences,” adding, “That tells you everything about where his head was.”
