How locals are reacting to Andrew’s move to Sandringham: ‘They’re dumping their royal rubbish on us’
Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor’s move from his Windsor estate to the King’s Sandringham Estate was met with a frosty reception by some local residents.
Press photographers and television crews gathered at the entrance of Wood Farm Cottage, where he was temporarily staying, on Wednesday.
The quiet lane next to St Peter’s church in Wolferton was full of parked cars and a helicopter was hovering overhead.
It is understood the former duke’s new nearby home, Marsh Farm, is not yet fully ready and his permanent move is expected in early April.
An unnamed woman who answered the door to a house in Wolferton said it was the wrong place for Mr Mountbatten-Windsor to move into and she felt he should be somewhere more “secret”.
“I think if he has to come and live here, it should be somewhere pretty secluded,” he said.
“There are houses where the king can go and not disturb anyone.
“The press is all there. The villagers don’t like it.”
“A quiet village.”
He suggested that “a house in the woods, surrounded by trees and no other houses would be better”, adding that Mr Mountbatten-Windsor’s new property in Wolferton was “very close to the road” and “there would always be reporters”.
“If he has to come, he has to come, but I actually think there are better places for him to go,” he said.
Many people in the village were reluctant to talk, with some saying they could not comment because they worked for the royal estate.
At the Sandringham Visitor Centre, about two miles away, members of the public did not speak favorably of Mr Mountbatten-Windsor’s move.
Abraham Bruin, 83, of West Walton, who used to work in plant nurseries, was visiting Sandringham Estate on Wednesday.
He said: “I’m a bit surprised too.
“If he’s an outcast and he lives in the mansion, he’s not an outcast, right?”
One woman, who did not give her name, said: “It really goes back to luxury, doesn’t it?
“It is expected hand and foot.”
Another woman, who visited the estate and declined to give her name, said: “I’m not too keen on him.
“I’m not happy that he’s like this.
“As long as we don’t see him. He’ll be hiding somewhere.”
“He will have everything he needs.
“He still lives in a certain luxury.”
A third woman, who did not give her name, also said she was “not in love” with Mountbatten-Windsor moving to the area.
“They are throwing royal garbage at us,” he said.
Mr Mountbatten-Windsor’s lease on his Windsor property runs until October but he is understood to have completed the bulk of his move to his new home.
However, it may take several weeks to complete and the former prince is likely to be seen at Royal Lodge from time to time.
