The former prince has been told to reign in the horse riding amid fears it will come off as a ‘bad look’, royal sources say
Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor has been told to reign it in, with the former prince now banned from horse riding while under police investigation.
He’s been grounded amids fears from royal aides that his beloved afternoon hacks throughout the countryside will seem a “bad look” while the 66-year-old is under police investigation for allegedly leaking UK secrets to convicted paedophile and multimillionaire financier Jeffrey Epstein.
Since his dramatic arrest last Thursday – on his birthday, which saw him ushered into a car by Thames Valley Police and whisked to a local station for 11 hours of police questioning – he has been forced to buck his favourite hobby.
Speaking to The Sun, a royal source said: “Since his arrest last week he has been ordered not to go horse riding. It’s considered a bad look.
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“They don’t think he should be seen grinning and smiling on his horse like he was in Windsor. But it was one of the few things he actually enjoyed doing so what on earth is he going to do with his time?”
The riding ban comes months after the voluntary surrender of his gun licence to the police last year, which saw another hobby of his come to an unceremonious end.
As public scrutiny of Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor remains, the former Duke of York is officially grounded.
However, despite the arrest and increased scrutiny, Andrew will still enjoy two luxuries at Sandringham that most Brits won’t ever come close to. A source told the Sun: “He will be given his own chef and valet at Marsh Farm, which is a climbdown to the luxury he was previously afforded.”
The property is a stark contrast to his former home at Royal Lodge in Windsor, where the 66-year-old had valets, chefs, butlers, housemaids, and cleaners, in addition to an army of servants when staying at his former apartment at Buckingham Palace, the Express reports.
It’s now understood that Charles is funding Andrew’s exile and retirement as he does not want the former duke to be a burden to others. Andrew was arrested by Thames Valley Police on February 19, on suspicion of misconduct in public office and released under investigation 11 hours later.
Andrew held the role of the UK’s trade envoy from 2001 to 2011, giving him privileged access to senior government and business contacts around the world.
The latest release of the Epstein files showed new emails and claims that Andrew had forwarded government reports from visits to Vietnam, Singapore, and China to late sex offender Epstein in 2010.
Andrew has vehemently denied all accusations made against him in relation to the deceased financier.
Within hours of his arrest, King Charles broke his silence as he released a statement, which read: “I have learned with the deepest concern the news about Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor and suspicion of misconduct in public office.
“What now follows is the full, fair and proper process by which this issue is investigated in the appropriate manner and by the appropriate authorities.
“In this, as I have said before, they have our full and wholehearted support and co-operation. Let me state clearly: the law must take its course.
“As this process continues, it would not be right for me to comment further on this matter. Meanwhile, my family and I will continue in our duty and service to you all.”
King Charles officially removed all of Andrew’s royal titles and patronages in November 2025 following the release of Virginia Giuffre’s posthumous memoir, Nobody’s Girl, in October last year.
Giuffre, who sadly took her own life in April 2025, accused Andrew of sexually assaulting her three times when she was under the age of 18.