Prince Andrew has been spotted behind the wheel at Windsor just hours before Donald Trump touches down in Britain for an unprecedented second State Visit. The Duke of York, 65, looked to be keeping his head down as he drove through the estate while final preparations for the President’s arrival were underway.
King Charles, 76, and Queen Camilla, 77, will host Trump and the First Lady at Windsor Castle on Wednesday. The couple is expected to fly into the UK tomorrow, with security already being tightened around the Berkshire royal residence. Seven-foot fences have gone up around the castle as staff prepare for the visit.
Buckingham Palace confirmed that the public won’t be able to see the Trumps on the first day of the trip. All of Wednesday’s events will be held inside the private grounds of Windsor, keeping the initial engagements away from crowds.
The sighting of Andrew comes as the Duke faces yet another wave of scandal. US Congress is reportedly reviewing “incriminating” emails between Andrew and Jeffrey Epstein, the convicted sex offender whose ties to the prince have long been a source of controversy.
A source told the Daily Mail, “If you think what’s happened to Peter Mandelson is bad, then you have no idea what will happen when the Andrew emails are released. They are embarrassing and incriminatin,g and he could be destroyed.”
Despite the looming revelations, Andrew has been carrying on with life at Windsor. Along with his quiet drive today, he was also seen enjoying a horse ride around the estate over the weekend.
The Trumps’ visit will begin with a welcome from the Prince and Princess of Wales before they meet the King and Queen for an open-air greeting at the castle. The US President will also be treated to a spectacular show in the skies with a fly-past by the Red Arrows, joined by UK and US F-35 fighter jets, followed by a special Beating Retreat military ceremony on the East Lawn.
Princess Kate will play a leading role during the state visit. On Thursday, she will accompany First Lady Melania Trump to Frogmore Gardens in the Home Park at Windsor Castle. There, they will meet chief scout Dwayne Fields and members of the Scouts’ Squirrels programme, a visit highlighting community work and youth engagement.
For the royals, the visit is both an opportunity to strengthen ties with the US and a logistical challenge given the high levels of security. For Andrew, however, the timing could not be more difficult as speculation grows about what those Epstein emails might reveal.
