PATRICK HILL: 'They all came to see the same thing - Britain's disgraced former prince'
The Mirror's Patrick Hill spent the day outside Andrew's soon to be former home, but despite witnessing a joke from an arriving driver, he found there is little for the royal family to smile about
From curious passers-by to the world’s media, they had one thing in common - the hope of catching a glimpse of Britain’s disgraced former prince.
The closest they got was the sight of two of Andrew’s bodyguards driving out of the gates of the royal’s soon to be former home. But the dark grey Land Rover discovery which left Royal Lodge just after 4pm was not carrying the man now humbly known as Andrew Mountbatten Windsor.
TV crews from as far away as Australia had gathered outside the gates since dawn in a bid to witness the first sighting of Andrew since he was stripped of his royal title and kicked out of his rent-free mansion.
Every vehicle passing through the gates was studied intently for clues amid speculation about when removal trucks will begin to arrive to move Andrew’s belongings to his new home at Sandringham.
They included a lorry, which turned out to be from a drinks firm. The driver leaned out of his window and shattered the sombre mood by wisecracking: “I’m delivering his leaving drinks”.
It was a moment of levity in the cold and rain. But it was a gag likely to have been lost on Andrew, who until this week was drinking in the last chance saloon.
And if the mood among locals and tourists visiting nearby Windsor Castle is a reflection of the feeling in the wider country, the King will be far from amused. Summing up the thoughts of many, Roy Davies, 75, from Molesey, Surrey, said: “It’s been a joke.
“Andrew has lived an entitled life since it all started. If he had come clean, all this could have been settled.
“He should have had more sense when meeting that chap Epstein. As soon as he heard rumours, he should have said, ‘that’s it, I’m out of here’.”
Mr Davies believes the King is attempting to rescue the monarchy with his decision, but thinks public opinion may have already swung too far against the family.
He said: “There’s a lot of people in Britain who don’t really believe in the monarchy any more. I don’t like the money that they spend and the houses they have.
“Wherever they go, the police motorbikes push the rest of us out of the way. I would rather have a republic. We just spend too much money on it, it’s crazy and the country can’t really afford it.”
Lara Delaney-Gray, 40, says the Andrew scandal has stained the image of the royal family. She said: “I think he thought that he is untouchable, but he’s not, regardless of who he is and who he’s related to.”
Student Callum O'Neil, 19, said: "There's so much controversy surrounding the royal family that's happened within the last 20 years, which I've grown up with, and Andrew is such a big part of that. It's definitely going to be a struggle for them to rebuild their reputation."
His pal Marcus Larking, 19, added: "I feel like our generation is really unforgiving and do not forget. Once everything goes online, it gets embedded in everyone's brain and it goes viral."
Although future King and Queen William and Kate give her hope, Polly Gledstone, 24, from Hampshire, also believes damage has been done. She said: “Charles has taken charge with Prince Andrew, but it’s too late. Twenty years too late.”