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Evening Standard
Evening Standard
Shaun Wilson

Prince Edward becomes first Royal to visit Andrew in exile to have ‘quiet word’ about brother moving into permanent home

Prince Edward (right) is the first royal to visit his brother Andrew in his new home - (Getty Images)

Prince Edward is the first member of the royal family to visit his disgraced brother Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor at his temporary home on the Sandringham estate.

The Duke of Edinburgh, 62, is said to have had a "quiet word" with his brother about finally moving to the five-bedroom Marsh Farm house on the royal estate in Norfolk.

The former prince is said to be "dragging his heels" about moving into the property, which required weeks of renovations following his sudden move in January.

Instead, Andrew, 66, is currently holed up in the nearby Wood Farm, where Edward typically stays during the Easter celebrations.

Edward is currently being accommodated in the main house at Sandringham while waiting for his brother to leave with a deadline set for this weekend, The Sun reports.

A source told the newspaper: “Prince Edward was the first and only member of the Royal Family to visit. Andrew has been ignored by everyone since he left Royal Lodge, including his daughters and ex-wife who have stayed away.

“Edward has already publicly made his feelings clear when he expressed concern for the victims. Edward was meant to be staying at Wood Farm as he regularly books it for Easter, but his brother was there.

“Andrew has been dragging his heels. He could have moved by now, but has been reluctant. Edward has had a quiet word with his brother.”

It is understood the Duke of Edinburgh is the first family member to have visited Andrew in two months.

Andrew was evicted from the 30-room Royal lodge on the Windsor estate, where he had resided for decades while paying a peppercorn rent, following damaging headlines about the extent of his friendship with the late paedophile financier Jeffrey Epstein.

Documents released by the US Department of Justice in January showed close emails between the pair, as well as images of Andrew pictured relaxing at Epstein's address.

The former Duke of York, who was stripped of his royal titles in October, denies any wrongdoing.

Yesterday, Andrew was seen making a short drive to Marsh Farm, where he met Sandringham estate manager Edward Parsons.

Flat-packed removal boxes were spotted being transported, showing the final move is more or less complete.

It is alleged the King refused to see Andrew when he stayed at Sandringham last month, despite it being just a mile away from Wood Farm.

The Prince and Princess of Wales, who holidayed at the nearby royal estate of Anmer Hall, have also kept their distance from him.

Last week, it was reported Andrew’s daughters Princess Beatrice and Princess Eugenie will not join the royal family for the Easter church service this Sunday.

With the agreement of the King, Beatrice and Eugenie have made alternative plans and will miss the traditional royal gathering at Windsor Castle, it is understood.

The King’s nieces previously joined the royal family for Christmas at Sandringham in December. It is understood they will be at family celebrations in the future.

The King, the Queen, The Prince and Princess of Wales and other members of the family are set to attend the Easter Matins church service at St George’s Chapel, Windsor Castle, as they traditionally do each year.

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