Prince Andrew’s beloved Royal Lodge is “in a shocking state”, according to reports.
According to the Daily Mail, the 64-year-old – who has lived at the Grade II listed home in Windsor since the early 2000s – is said to be taking it upon himself to maintain the 21-acre gardens.
The disgraced royal is reportedly busying himself by maintaining the garden himself after it was reported his brother King Charles has been trying to encourage the duke to downsize.
Todd Longstaffe Gowan, the Historic Royal Palaces gardener, told the publication: “It is in a shocking state.”
Dicussing how difficult the task will be for Andrew, he added: “I won’t be knocking that into shape! It is impossible! I’ve been at Kensington Palace for 30 years, and I think Royal Lodge would be quite impossible.”
According to the report, the mansion – which boasts 30 rooms – is surrounded by shrubbery and woodlands.
The home is known to have once been surrounded by flowers, which are now nowhere to be seen.
This report comes shortly after the last governor of British Hong Kong recently voiced his sympathy for the Duke of York.
Andrew, who stepped down from royal duties in 2019 following the Newsnight interview over his friendship with convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein, was described as a “victim” by Lord Patten.
According to the Daily Mail’s diary editor Richard Eden, Lord Patten said: “He is a hapless victim of United Front [Chinese Communist Party operatives] activity in this country.”
He also reportedly told Mr Eden: “I don’t think Andrew has large numbers of state secrets.”
Andrew, the father of Princess Beatrice and Princess Eugenie, is thought to have spent Christmas at home in Windsor with his ex-wife, Sarah Ferguson.