Staff working on the grounds of Frogmore Cottage have allegedly placed a bet on who can spike Prince Andrew’s car with a bollard, according to an insider.
The wager reportedly dates back to 2016, after the Duke of York forced open closed gates while driving his Range Rover through Windsor Great Park. The prize — a bottle of malt whisky — is said to await whoever pulls off the stunt against the “arrogant and rude” prince.
Prince Andrew is currently residing at Royal Lodge, a sprawling 31-room Georgian mansion in Windsor, as he keeps a low profile amid the fallout from the Jeffrey Epstein sex trafficking scandal. He has not paid rent for 22 years, and reports suggest King Charles is now pressuring his younger brother to vacate the property.
In recent weeks, decorators and contractors have been spotted working around the clock at nearby Frogmore Cottage — heightening speculation that Andrew’s move there is imminent.
The Grade II-listed residence was once home to Prince Harry and Meghan Markle, who vacated it officially in 2023. The Duke and Duchess of Sussex had spent £2.4 million refurbishing the property in 2019, funds they later repaid to the Sovereign Grant. No one has lived there since, apart from Princess Eugenie, who stayed briefly during lockdown.
A source on the Crown Estate in Windsor said: “The cottage is finished and ready for its new tenant, whoever it may be. We’ve always found Prince Andrew to be arrogant and rude, even before the Epstein scandal. While Harry and Meghan largely kept to themselves, he wanted special treatment — like having barriers lifted instead of driving the normal route to Windsor Castle.
“There was even a bet, before the sex allegations surfaced, for a bottle of malt whisky to anyone who could spike his car on a bollard. It followed an incident when he broke a gate at a deer enclosure next to Royal Lodge by forcing his way through when it was shut.
“As for Sarah Ferguson, I can’t understand why his ex-wife is also being mentioned as part of the move.”
The 65-year-old prince has faced renewed scrutiny after relinquishing his remaining royal privileges and titles earlier this month. His association with Epstein and inconsistencies in his account of events have been further questioned following the release of sex trafficking survivor Virginia Giuffre’s new book.
Andrew reportedly holds a long-term lease on Royal Lodge until 2078. His ex-wife, Sarah Ferguson, 66, who also gave up her official titles, has been linked to a potential move to Adelaide Cottage — also in Windsor — which would place the former couple in close proximity once again.
Another insider told The Sun: “People have been inside Frogmore Cottage working day and night. Over the weekend, the lights were still on after dark and workmen have been coming and going for weeks. It shouldn’t need much done since Harry and Meghan already spent millions on renovations six years ago, and no one has lived there since apart from Eugenie during lockdown.”
According to reports, King Charles is “adamant” that Andrew must leave Royal Lodge, and Frogmore Cottage is part of the discussion.
The prince’s ongoing housing saga has also revived attention around his former marital home, Sunninghill Park, located five miles away. He sold the mansion to a Kazakhstani oligarch nearly 20 years ago, yet the property has remained empty since. Satellite images taken this year show no vehicles or signs of occupancy, with heavy shutters drawn over the windows and security guards stationed at the gates.
