Royal enthusiasts will soon have the chance to glimpse inside former Prince Andrew’s new residence as the King’s team has altered the route of the summer “safari” tours of his Norfolk estate.
The guided tours, which navigate visitors around the King’s Sandringham property in a Land Rover Defender, provide an opportunity to admire the country estate in its full splendor. The ‘Safari and Afternoon Tea Tour,’ lasting two hours, commences in the formal areas, showcasing the gardens and exterior of Sandringham House, reconstructed in 1870 for Edward VII’s expanding family.
Attendees can then wander through the breathtaking landscapes of the broader estate before being directed to the rear of Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor’s new residence, Marsh Farm.
The tours now venture off-road across the fields behind Andrew’s new abode, utilizing his shared driveway to access the road in the village of Wolferton.
The King’s disgraced brother was compelled to vacate his 30-room Royal Lodge in Windsor earlier this year due to his association with the late convicted pedophile Jeffrey Epstein.
Andrew, aged 66, was implicated multiple times in extensive documents released by the US State Department investigating Epstein’s criminal activities. Additionally, last October, the monarch stripped Andrew of all his titles and honors, expressing deep concern over the allegations.
On his birthday, February 19, Andrew was arrested by Thames Valley police on allegations of misconduct in a public office. He remains under scrutiny by the force for allegedly divulging confidential information to Epstein while serving as a trade envoy for the British government.
Apart from the royal family, Andrew has largely remained in seclusion since his exile, making a few recent appearances walking with a bodyguard on the Sandringham estate and observing horses near his new five-bedroom residence.
The tours guide guests through the formal gardens, extending to the wider estate to exhibit the King’s organic farmland and forests teeming with wildlife such as deer, hare, and birds of prey.
Visitors can also delve into areas like the Wash, a scenic shallow bay abundant with wintering birds.
Tickets for the tours can be purchased on the Sandringham estate website, promising a captivating tour of the Royal Sandringham Estate aboard a Land Rover Defender, including a visit to the Royal Station platform in Wolferton village.
The experience culminates with a delectable Afternoon Tea sourced from local produce. Each safari is an intimate encounter limited to a maximum of six individuals.
Another tour operator suggests that royal aficionados can traverse spectacular landscapes, serene organic farmland, and enchanting forests, accompanied by a knowledgeable guide residing and working on the estate, eager to address inquiries about its management.
Queen Elizabeth II traditionally hosted her family at Sandringham every Christmas from 1988, except during Covid restrictions. She fondly reminisced about the cherished memories created there during the festive season, typically staying through the new year until commemorating the anniversary of her father, King George VI’s passing, on February 6.
George V, King Charles III’s great-grandfather, affectionately referred to the family’s Norfolk retreat as “Dear old Sandringham, the place I love better than anywhere else in the world.” George VI expressed his love for the estate, stating, “I have always been so happy here, and I love the place.”
