Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor is said to have quietly left his secluded base on the Sandringham estate for a luxury break in France funded by an Arab billionaire, according to the Daily Mail.
The former Duke of York reportedly spent a relaxed weekend in rural Brittany as the guest of a UAE horse-breeding magnate.
He was invited by sportswear billionaire Mohammed A Baker to stay at his well-regarded stud farm, located in the countryside near St Malo in north-west France.
The trip has drawn further attention because, just 72 hours after returning to his home in Norfolk, Andrew was photographed with significant bruising on his face. The timing has prompted speculation that the unexplained injury may have occurred during his stay in France.
Andrew is understood to have flown by private jet from Norwich International Airport to Dinard Airport on Saturday, May 30, with the aircraft reportedly arranged by Mr Baker. He is said to have spent three days at the secluded equestrian property before returning on the evening of Monday, June 1.
The much-discussed photograph showing the bruise was taken on the morning of June 4.
During the trip, Andrew reportedly rode horses along a broad French beach, played boules in a historic courtyard and was treated to meals prepared by a private chef.
Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor reportedly left his residence on the Sandringham estate for a luxury break funded by an Arab billionaire, according to the Mail
The former Duke of York enjoyed what has been described as a relaxing weekend break in rural Brittany – seen here – as the VIP guest of a horse breeding tycoon from the UAE
Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor is seen horse riding with his groom near Windsor Castle in Berkshire on January 31 this year
The former prince was invited by sportswear billionaire Mohammed A Baker (pictured) to stay at his acclaimed stud farm set in a rural location close to St Malo in north-west France
Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor is pictured leaving Marsh Farm in Wolferton, Norfolk, on June 4
The undercover getaway is believed to have been at the suggestion and expense of his host.
Andrew spent the three days at the Gulf tycoon’s sprawling stud farm, MAB Stables, which is home to around 130 thoroughbreds and their various foals.
Mr Baker – who uses the initial A as a business flourish – is a billionaire with extensive business and social contacts across the Middle East.
Despite the deliberately low-key nature of the fallen royal’s trip to visit him, it did become known to other locals.
One was acclaimed French racehorse trainer Arthur Desprez who runs his own equestrian business, Ecurie Desprez, close to Mr Baker’s stud farm and has dealings with him in that capacity.
Mr Desprez told the Daily Mail: ‘Prince Andrew was the guest of Mohammed Baker. He stayed at his house.’
He refused to discuss the trip further but we also spoke to a farm worker who had seen comings and goings around the MAB.
He told us: ‘The royal man came for a few days. He had a bodyguard with him, just one.
‘Mohammed was in France for a few days and must have invited him to stay. It would have been a relaxing weekend. They rode horses together.
‘There is a path straight from the farm to the beach which is a couple of kilometres away.
‘It’s a very beautiful spot and very empty. They like to take the horses there and run on the beach.
‘The prince and Mohammed also played boules together in the courtyard, outside the main house.
‘The prince stayed in the house where Mohammed lives. It is a big house and it has lots of bedrooms. And the food and wine when he is your host is of exceptional quality.’
Mr Baker, 38, is the trainers king of the Middle East and Southeast Asia – with lucrative connections to footwear and sportswear brands like Nike and Puma.
There was previously no known connection between Andrew and Mr Baker but they clearly have contacts in common connections, including some particularly prominent ones.
Mr Baker was personally appointed as trade envoy for the United Arab Emirates by Dubai ruler Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum.
Meanwhile Andrew has met with Sheikh Al Maktoum many times, in his own now former role as trade envoy, as well as at private events, such as horse racing events.
Sheikh Maktoum also had a long friendship with Queen Elizabeth II due to their shared love of horses and horse racing.
The Sheikh was a regular guest of the late queen at Buckingham Palace, and they spent time together at numerous events – with her favourite son, Andrew, often present too.
Mohammed Baker – who uses the initial A as a business flourish – is a billionaire with extensive business and social contacts across the Middle East
Andrew spent the three days at the Gulf tycoon’s sprawling stud farm, MAB Stables, which is home to around 130 thoroughbreds and their various foals
Mr Baker (left), 38, is the trainers king of the Middle East and Southeast Asia – with lucrative connections to footwear and sportswear brands like Nike and Puma
Mr Baker also has close ties to UAE President Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, who reportedly offered Andrew an all-expenses-paid residence in the kingdom as a sanctuary, following his dramatic fall from grace.
While the former Prince’s toxic association with paedophile financier Jeffrey Epstein has left him a pariah in the west, the scandal has had much less impact among his long-established network of wealthy Arab contacts.
Andrew and Mr Baker also clearly share a love of horses – Andrew has famously been photographed riding many times since his life was overtaken by scandal while Mr Baker regularly attends equine events across Europe regularly as well as visiting his own stables.
The Brittany farm worker we spoke to added: ‘Mohammed Baker loves it here. He comes for a few days every couple of months. He loves it here – the peace, the calm, and obviously the horses.
‘He is a very wealthy man, but he is also very humble – he is known to everyone as Mohammed, not Mr Baker.’
After a decade at the helm of a firm founded almost 50 years ago by his father, Gulf Marketing Group, Mr Baker continues to expand its already vast array of business interests.
But the cornerstone of his fortune is based on selling sportswear across the middle east and Asia.
Because although GMG is an umbrella company with multiple business interests in fields as varied as healthcare, education and property, its single biggest source of income remains the sports retail brand Sun and Sand Sports which his father founded in 1985.
Sun and Sand now has over 500 branches across 12 countries mostly in the Middle East underpinned by regional distribution deals with brands like Nike, Timberland, and The North Face.
The late Queen Elizabeth II is pictured with Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President of the United Arab Emirates, and the then-Duke of York Prince Andrew
Dubai’s crown prince and defence minister .Sheikh Mohammed Bin Rashid Al Maktoum talks with then-Prince Andrew at the inauguration of the Dubai 2001 air show on November 4 2001
GMG also has the franchise for the JD Sport outlet in the Middle East. And six years ago GMG bought a company. Royal Sporting House, which has a similar grip on sportswear sales in Southeast Asia, and so acquired hundreds of new outlets in 57 new cities including Singapore and Hong Kong.
Just last month he was named among the top 100 ‘Most Powerful Arabs’ by a Gulf magazine, a fact he proudly shared on social media.
Mr Baker indicated an admiration for the royal family when he posted a tribute to Andrew’s mother, the late Queen, on social media soon after her death in 2022.
He wrote: ‘I extend my deep condolences to The Royal Family, the people of Britain and the Commonwealth for the passing of Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II, Britain’s longest reigning monarch. Over the last seven decades, she was a beacon of stability and remarkable legacy.’
Mr Baker is a keen horseman and thoroughbreds from his MAB stables compete in equestrian events around the world.
His sister Hamda Baker – who previously worked for UAE’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs and holds an executive position at GMG – has gushed about her love for England, staying at the Royal Garden Hotel on Kensington High Street and posting about her ‘heart’ being in London.
Andrew has had little social contact since he was finally forced to leave Royal Lodge, his 30-bedroom mansion in Windsor in February and relocate alone to a remote farm on the Sandringham estate.
On 19 February Andrew was arrested by Thames Valley Police on suspicion of misconduct in public office in connection with his close relationship with convicted sex offender, Epstein.
He was taken into custody at Aylsham police station in Norfolk, some 40 miles from his home on the Sandringham estate and held for 11 hours for questioning.
The former prince has been accused of passing market sensitive information to the millionaire financier that he was given in his role as British trade envoy.
Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor is said to have enjoyed beachside horse riding in St Malo
During his free trip Andrew rode horses on a sweeping French beach, played boules in an historic courtyard and was lavishly entertained with meals prepared by a private chef
The 66-year-old former Royal Navy helicopter pilot was not charged and was released ‘under investigation’ at about 7pm and was photographed crouching in the back of a Range Rover, as he attempted to hide from the press.
But the royal was not subjected to any travel restrictions which meant his Britanny trip did not need any third-party authorisation.
In October last year Andrew was stripped of his royal titles. King Charles initiated the formal process to ‘remove the style, titles and honours of Prince Andrew’, who was to be known simply as Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor from then onwards.
In 2019 the late Queen forced her second son to give up royal duties and end his charitable work following his failure to explain away his ties to Epstein in a catastrophic interview with the BBC’s Emily Maitlis.
Mr Baker has been approached for comment.
