ANDREW Mountbatten-Windsor has had his gun licence revoked in the latest blow to the ex-prince.
Keen huntsman Andrew, 65, agreed to give up the certificate after specialist police visited his Royal Lodge home in Windsor.
He has been a regular at posh shooting parties and a source said: “It’s a real blow to him.”
The disgraced ex-prince regularly hosted events at Windsor, Sandringham and Balmoral but has not been seen on any since his brother the King stripped him of titles.
To cap a disastrous year, Andrew can now only use, or transport, his shotguns if accompanied.
A source confirmed to The Sun: “He will be under strict supervision. It is a real blow.”
Andrew — believed to own shotguns and rifles by James Purdey & Sons — sent a lackey to speak to police visiting him at Royal Lodge, Windsor, Berks, last month.
The ex-prince then agreed to give up his certificate after discussions.
Gun licences are reviewed regularly and cops can act if the holder has a change of circumstances or there are public safety fears.
Cops are not believed to have seized firearms from the home but placed conditions on how they are kept and who has access.
A Met Police spokesperson confirmed last night: “On Wednesday November 19, firearms licensing officers attended an address in Windsor to request that a man in his 60s voluntarily surrender his firearms and shotgun certificate.
“The certificate was surrendered, and we will be not be commenting any further at this stage.”
Sources said the Met, which is responsible for royal and diplomatic protection, sent officers to see Andrew after a review, and dealt with him via a valet.
The review came as the force probed him over claims he asked his police protection officer to gather information on sex accuser Virginia Giuffre, a victim of his paedophile pal Jeffrey Epstein and Brit socialite Ghislaine Maxwell.
It was alleged Andrew gave the officer Virginia’s date of birth and social security number just before a newspaper published a photo of them together in 2011.
The Met Police said a week ago it would take no further action after its probe failed to find “additional evidence of criminal acts or misconduct”.
But the force said it was “committed to thoroughly assessing any new information” linked to the allegations.
Andrew was never arrested and has no convictions, but sources say he was given a “pretty thorough” grilling by cops. In cases where a person is arrested and has firearms, officers can seek to have their gun licence revoked.
Our source added: “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.
“He will now not be able to do things like use guns on his own or even transport them unless he is under strict supervision. It is a real blow to him.”
In his disastrous 2019 Newsnight interview Andrew said that he had hosted Epstein and Maxwell for a “straightforward shooting weekend” at the royals’ estate at Sandringham, Norfolk, in 2000.
There have been regular royal weekend shooting parties this winter in Windsor Great Park, including one last Monday.
But Andrew has not been seen on any since October when King Charles removed his “prince” title, forcing him to become simply Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor.
The monarch also announced Andrew would move out of 30-room Royal Lodge.
POLICE STATEMENT
‘On Wednesday, 19 November, Metropolitan Police firearms licensing officers attended an address in Windsor to request that a man in his 60s voluntarily surrender his firearms and shotgun certificate.
The certificate was surrendered, and we will be not be commenting any further at this stage.’
He is rumoured to be moving to Marsh Farm, seven miles west of Sandringham.
He and ex-wife Sarah Ferguson, 66 — who lives in a separate wing of the lodge — have been meeting occasionally at meal-times to discuss their uncertain futures.
Andrew has been under mounting pressure since Ms Giuffre, who committed suicide in April aged 41, renewed claims against him in her posthumous book Nobody’s Girl.
The Sun on Sunday revealed in October how Andrew had emailed tycoon Epstein, who died in jail awaiting trial in 2019, saying “We’re in this together” despite claiming to have cut ties with him.
The ex-prince, who has denied allegations against him, has also been sent a letter by the US Congress asking him to speak to them about Epstein’s abuse network.
In August, ex-Reform MP and farmer Rupert Lowe had his gun collection returned by police after they were seized in a probe months earlier.
They were taken from his Cotswolds farm this March after an allegation he made threats to Reform chairman Zia Yusuf, which Mr Lowe denied.
Successive Home Secretaries have urged police forces to make rigorous checks on gun licence holders.
Tougher new guidance brought in this summer included increased use of references, integrity and honesty tests, social media checks, medical information and higher fees.
New firearms and shotgun certificates are £198 and £194 in the UK.
In August, ex-Reform MP and farmer Rupert Lowe had his gun collection returned by police after they were seized in a probe months earlier.
They were taken from his Cotswolds farm this March after an allegation he made threats to Reform chairman Zia Yusuf, which Mr Lowe denied.
Successive Home Secretaries have urged police forces to make rigorous checks on gun licence holders.
Tougher new guidance brought in this summer included increased use of references, integrity and honesty tests, social media checks, medical information and higher fees.
New firearms and shotgun certificates are £198 and £194 in the UK.
