The disgraced former Duke of York is a ‘flight risk’ and should have his passport taken off him, a royal expert has claimed.
Andrew Mountbatten Windsor, 65, could reportedly set up home in a £10million luxury villa in the Abu Dhabi royal family‘s fortified estate, to live a life of luxury away from the media spotlight.
However, Andrew Lownie, the author of the biography of Andrew and Sarah – ‘Entitled: The Rise and Fall of the House of York’, believes the disgraced former prince should not be allowed to leave the country.
It comes after a bombshell cache of emails from paedophile Jeffrey Epstein‘s estate confirmed the infamous photo of Andrew with a teenage Virginia Giuffre is real.
Mr Lownie said the former duke should ‘surrender’ his passport so he can’t flee the country, describing him as a ‘flight risk’.
‘This new information dump is the nail in the coffin for Prince Andrew, highlighting the lies he has told about his association with Jeffrey Epstein,’ he told the Mirror.
‘There is still much more to emerge but there can be no doubt now about how deeply involved [he was] with the convicted paedophile. Andrew needs to be investigated and as a flight risk and his passport should be surrendered.’
He added: ‘I think there is a good chance Andrew would avoid any possible legal charges by going to Middle East like King Juan Carlos. That would certainly suit the Royal Family. If the authorities are serious about investigating him and holding him to account then his passport needs to be confiscated.’
Andrew Mountbatten Windsor, 65, (right) has reportedly been offered use of a waterfront home by UAE president Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan (pictured left)
The lavish property sits in the Sea Palace compound – the heavily guarded residence of the UAE’s ruling family – alongside the headquarters of the Emirati navy
Andrew was reportedly offered use of the waterfront home by president Sheik Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, whom he met when they were pupils at Gordonstoun School.
Sheikh Mohamed ordered a refurbishment of a private villa within the complex following the death of Queen Elizabeth II.
The six-bedroom property, with a home cinema, indoor plunge pool and gym, offers the disgraced former prince the chance to live away from the media spotlight.
Mr Lownie said: ‘He would be happy living somewhere where the media is muzzled, where he will still be treated as a senior royal and where he can easily live under the radar.
‘His personal relationships with young women are not likely to be scrutinised in Abu Dhabi.
‘There has been much speculation that Andrew might divide his time between Britain and the UAE, using this property as his base.’
It is believed the villa has been extensively used in the past by both Andrew and his daughters, Princesses Beatrice and Eugenie.
The prospect of Andrew embarking on a life in exile in the Gulf is the culmination of many years’ friendship with Sheik Mohamed, 64, who is known as ‘MBZ’.
He began visiting Abu Dhabi when he was the UK’s Special Representative for International Trade and Investment from 2001 until forced to quit ten years later due to his friendship with paedophile Jeffrey Epstein.
He met his one-time girlfriend, businesswoman Amanda Staveley, there in 2001 – she reportedly turned down a marriage proposal.
He was said to have romanced Lebanese-born Christina Keserwan, 17 years his junior, in 2002 when she had a role in MBZ’s racehorse team.
If he does move, Spain’s former king Juan Carlos, who abdicated in 2014 after a scandal linked to deals in Saudi Arabia, will be a neighbour.
Andrew’s ex-wife, Sarah Ferguson, is said to be considering quitting the UK for Portugal.
A source said: ‘Aside from her children and grandchildren, there’s not a lot to keep her here. Put it this way, the invitations have dried up overnight.’
