Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor might soon be acquainted with the earthy scents of rural life as he prepares to settle into his new residence on the Sandringham estate. The estate’s staff have deposited a substantial pile of manure nearby, introducing some farmyard fragrances to his future home environment.
With tractors and trailers in tow, workers have hauled immense quantities of manure to a location a little over 200 yards behind Marsh Farm, where Andrew is anticipated to reside long-term on this Norfolk property.
Additionally, laborers have been observed dispersing what seems to be manure around dozens of freshly planted trees in a field adjacent to Wood Farm, the current lodging of the former prince, who is striving to maintain a low profile following his arrest last Thursday.
This situation implies that Andrew might have to endure some less-than-pleasant smells, highlighting King Charles’s apparent reluctance to grant his brother any special treatment.
Under King Charles’s management since 2018, the 20,000-acre estate has embraced organic farming, eliminating chemical fertilisers shortly after he assumed control as Prince of Wales.
Currently, Sandringham hosts a herd of up to 500 cattle, not only supplying high-quality meat but also producing manure that serves as a natural fertiliser, supporting the estate’s organic practices.
The muck heap created in an enclosure formed by straw bales behind Marsh Farm is known to be brand new as it does not feature on Google satellite images or on recent drone footage of the area.
Three workers were seen dumping muck from a tractor and trailer around the base of young trees, just a few yards from Andrew’s front door at Wood Farm around ten days after he moved in.
The muck heap created in an enclosure formed by straw bales behind Marsh Farm is known to be brand new as it does not feature on Google satellite images or on recent drone footage of the area
Three workers were seen dumping muck from a tractor and trailer around the base of young trees, just a few yards from Andrew’s front door at Wood Farm around ten days after he moved in
Marsh Farm, where Andrew is expected to live in the long term on the Norfolk estate
There has not been any sign yet of Andrew’s favourite horse at Sandringham, suggesting it is still in Windsor where he used to be pictured regularly going out for rides before he was forced to leave his palatial mansion Royal Lodge over his Epstein links
A local villager said: ‘There has been a whiff of scandal around Andrew for a long time, so it is fitting that he should be exposed to the smells of the countryside.’
Another said: ‘The King owns the estate privately and is ultimately responsible for everything that goes on there, so maybe he is trying to tell him something.’
Andrew has been living for just over three weeks at Wood Farm in Wolferton, which was a favourite retreat of the late Queen and the retirement home of his father, Prince Philip.
His move came after Charles ordered him to quit Royal Lodge at Windsor over continuing revelations about his links with paedophile financier Jeffrey Epstein.
He is reportedly due to stay there until renovation work is complete on nearby Marsh Farm, which is around half a mile away and is said to have been chosen by Charles to be his permanent home.
Thames Valley Police swooped on Wood Farm early last Thursday and arrested Andrew on suspicion of misconduct in a public office.
He spent 11 hours being quizzed at the Police Investigation Centre in Aylsham before he was released and driven 40 miles back to Sandringham by his private security guards in his personal Range Rover.
Andrew is known to have been on several secret visits to Marsh Farm in recent weeks, but work on the interior of the property has slowed, suggesting he might be staying at Wood Farm for the long term.
Several fully-loaded concrete mixer lorries were seen going into the back of Marsh Farm last week amid reports that a stable block was being renovated to be used for Andrew to keep his horses.
There has not been any sign yet of Andrew’s favourite horse at Sandringham, suggesting it is still in Windsor where he used to be pictured regularly going out for rides before he was forced to leave his palatial mansion Royal Lodge over his Epstein links.
The entrance to Wood Farm on the Sandringham Estate in Norfolk, where Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor has relocated following his departure from Royal Lodge in Windsor
Tractors and trailers have transported tons of muck to a spot just over 200 yards away from the rear of Marsh Farm, where Andrew is expected to live in the long term on the Norfolk estate
A Range Rover carring Andrew drove past the manure on the Sandringham estate this week
A workman measures up for the installation of new security lights on one of the red brick walls
A solid, six-foot high wooden fence has sprung up around parts of the perimeter with the help of a JCB
Wood Farm is much more private, as it is hidden behind trees down a 300 yard driveway, while Marsh Farm is exposed to view from a public road and still does not have gates to shield it from curious onlookers.
The Sandringham estate was last month given planning consent to build a giant slurry lagoon – the size of three Olympic swimming pools – less than a mile away from Prince William and Kate’s home at Anmer Hall.
The plans were approved by King’s Lynn and West Norfolk Borough Council, despite the parish council at nearby Flitcham expressing ‘valid concerns’ about the potential smell.
