Andrew Mountbatten Windsor has made his first public appearance since being stripped of his royal titles and served an eviction notice by his brother, King Charles. The former Duke of York was photographed horse riding for an hour on the grounds of Windsor Castle, marking his first public sighting in nearly seven weeks.
Mounting Pressure from US Investigators
This emergence into the public eye comes as the former prince faces accusations from a US congressman that he is 'hiding' from a request to be questioned about his connections to the late paedophile financier, Jeffrey Epstein. Suhas Subramanyam, a Democrat member of the House Oversight Committee, stated that Mr Windsor has been avoiding a 'transcribed interview' requested by the committee.
A formal letter, signed by 16 members of Congress, was sent to Andrew ten days ago, demanding a response by this Thursday. Mr Subramanyam told The Guardian, 'It seems like every time we find more evidence, Prince Andrew seems to be in the documents.' He added a warning that if Andrew is hoping the matter will disappear by ignoring the committee, he will be 'sorely disappointed.'
New Evidence from Epstein Document Dump
The pressure intensifies following the release of more than 20,000 documents and emails in the US this week. Among the communications is an email from Ghislaine Maxwell to Jeffrey Epstein from January 2015, in which she expresses her intention to distance herself from him and deny any knowledge of a massage involving the former Prince Andrew.
Another email reveals Andrew begging Maxwell to deny knowledge of an Epstein orgy. This fresh evidence has prompted US President Donald Trump to reverse his previous stance, now urging House Republicans to vote in favour of releasing all files related to the Epstein case.
An Uncertain Future for the Former Duke
Since his fall from royal grace, Andrew has remained close to Royal Lodge, the estate he is being forced to vacate. Reports indicate that in the new year, he is expected to relocate to a smaller home on the Sandringham estate in Norfolk.
Despite the downgrade in his living arrangements, the Daily Mail reports that Andrew is insisting on retaining a team of staff at his new Norfolk lodgings. His recent appearance horse riding at Windsor Castle, accompanied by an unidentified woman, underscores the stark contrast between his current life and the royal duties he once held.
