Prince Andrew 's former mansion remains shrouded in mystery as it lies empty seven years after being sold to a Kazakh oligarch.
Sunninghill Park, dubbed South York after the ranch in TV soap Dallas, was gifted by the Queen to the Duke and Sarah Ferguson following their wedding in 1986.
Tycoon Timur Kulibayev paid £15million for the mansion next to Windsor Great Park in 2007.
It was bought for £3million over the asking price - although there was an even higher offer on the table, which was rejected because it wasn't as financially straightforward as that made by Timur Kulibayev.
In 2015, after finding alternative roosts for at least 100 bats, the home was bulldozed to make way for a new, more lavish property.
But seven years later the ‘Tesco-style’ mansion still appears to be undergoing construction, despite it being claimed last year that the work was complete.
Makeshift fencing and steel beams remain in place at the country estate, while sacks of debris were also spotted lying towards the entrance, reports The Sun.
In 2012, it was reported that neighbours feared squatters might claim the sprawling property for themselves.
A neighbour said at the time: "Nobody's been there for a very long time.
"At first we thought the new owners might do it up or even knock it down and build something new but nothing has happened. It's shocking when you think it's supposed to be worth £15m."
The rebuild was designed by architects HOK, which is responsible for the BBC ’s Broadcasting House.
Towards the beginning of the property's construction, a spokesman for the firm said: "We have signed a non-disclosure agreement and must respect our client’s privacy."
The Duke and Duchess of York moved into Sunninghill in 1990 after four years of building work. They continued to live there together even after their divorce in 1996.
It went on the market in 2002 to help Andrew pay the £7.5million cost of renovating nearby Royal Lodge, the Queen Mum's former home, and it has sold in 2007 for £15 million.
The deal with Mr Kulibayev had previously led to accusations that Andrew was cashing in on his royal links.
The Duke, who has always denied any impropriety, is a friend of Mr Kulibayev’s father-in-law, Kazakhstan president Nursultan Nazarbayev, who has been embroiled in accusations of corruption in the former Soviet republic.
He met the president through his former role as a UK global trade ambassador but has since visited the country privately, joining Mr Nazarbayev on goose-hunting expeditions.
It was suggested at the time that Mr Kulibayev’s former mistress, Goga Ashkenazi – a close friend of Andrew – helped secure the sale.
The Duke has faced renewed scrutiny over his finances after paying a settlement, reported to be as much as £12million, to Virginia Giuffre who alleged she was made to have sex with him as a teenager.
Andrew has repeatedly denied the allegations and did not admit liability as part of the out-of-court settlement.
