Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor, once the Duke of York, has just been stripped of his firearms license in a move that’s got royal watchers buzzing, as the Daily Mail reports.
This latest chapter for the 65-year-old ex-royal, known for his passion for hunting and ownership of numerous shotguns and rifles, comes as he faces ongoing scandals and prepares for a significant relocation from Royal Lodge in Windsor to a smaller property on the King’s Sandringham estate.
Andrew was once a regular host of shooting events at prestigious royal estates like Sandringham and Balmoral, even throwing a birthday bash for Ghislaine Maxwell, a figure tied to the infamous Jeffrey Epstein, back in 2000 at Sandringham.
Fast forward to November, when the Metropolitan Police, tasked with royal protection, paid a visit to Andrew at Royal Lodge for a security review that left no stone unturned.
Reports suggest Andrew relied on a valet to handle the intense questioning from the Met’s specialist officers, who didn’t seize his weapons but slapped tight restrictions on their storage and access.
As a result, Andrew can no longer use or transport his firearms without strict expert supervision. It's a real kick in the shin for a man who’s lived for the hunt.
In October, whispers from royal insiders to the Daily Mail hinted at plans to bar Andrew from hosting shooting parties on royal grounds, a suggestion that seems to have gained traction.
Though Windsor Great Park has seen plenty of shooting events recently, Andrew hasn’t been spotted at any since the King stripped him of his royal titles -- a clear sign of his shrinking social circle.
On Nov. 19, firearms licensing officers requested a man in his 60s at a Windsor address to surrender his firearms and shotgun certificate, which was handed over without a fight, according to the Met Police.
Adding fuel to the fire, allegations have resurfaced about Andrew’s past, including claims he tasked a police protection officer with digging into Virginia Giuffre, who accused him of misconduct tied to Epstein -- a charge Andrew has fiercely denied.
The Met Police recently announced, after an eight-week review, that they found no new evidence of criminal acts or misconduct, with Detective Chief Superintendent Ella Marriott stating on Dec. 13 that they “will be taking no further action.”
While that might sound like a reprieve, it’s hard to ignore the optics. Shouldn’t taxpayers question why public resources were even used for such personal investigations in the first place?
Meanwhile, Andrew’s upcoming move to a rumored “shoebox-sized” property at Marsh Farm on the Sandringham estate, currently under renovation, might have played a role in the license revocation, as gun owners must report storage plans at new addresses.
A source noted, “It is also a factor that he is due to be moving soon -- and gun licence holders have to inform authorities how their weapons would be kept at new addresses,” before adding that this restriction is “a real blow to him.”
Between the expanded no-fly zone over Marsh Farm and the shrinking of his personal freedoms, it’s clear Andrew’s once-grand lifestyle is being boxed in. Perhaps it's a fitting metaphor for a man caught in a web of self-inflicted controversies, though one can’t help but wonder if the punishment fits the context.
