Andrew Mountbatten-Windsorwas confronted by a balaclava-clad mannearhis new home on the Sandringham Estatein Norfolk on Wednesday evening, 6 May, in an incident that has thrown fresh light on theex-royal's pared-back security arrangements.
Police said the man, allegedly carrying an offensive weapon, came within yards of Andrew before being arrested at the scene.
According to accounts given to British media, Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor had been out walking his dogs near Marsh Farm, his new home on the Sandringham Estate, at around 7.30pm when the incident unfolded on a narrow country lane.
A source said the former prince was about to get into his car, accompanied by a single private protection officer, when a man in a vehicle about 50 yards away suddenly got out. The man, described as wearing a balaclava or ski mask, is understood to have started shouting and then charging towards Andrew down the lane.
The suspect is said to have come within a few metres of Andrew's car while continuing to scream in a threatening way. At that point, the ex-royal's vehicle reportedly sped away, with the man briefly pursuing on foot. It is understood Andrew was left shaken by the encounter but was not injured.
Norfolk Police confirmed that officers were called soon afterwards. A force spokesman said: 'Officers were called to Wolferton shortly after 7.30pm on Wednesday following a report that a man was behaving in an intimidating manner in the village. Officers attended, and the man was arrested on suspicion of a public order offence and possession of an offensive weapon. He was taken to King's Lynn Police Investigation Centre for questioning, and remains in custody.'
Police have said the incident is not being treated as terrorism-related. One working line of inquiry is that the suspect may be a 'fixated' individual, a term often used for people who develop an obsessive interest in public figures.
The confrontation has inevitably revived questions about how secure Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor now is, and where responsibility for his safety really lies.
When he was still a working royal living at the Royal Lodge in Windsor Great Park, Andrew's home sat behind what was often described as a 'ring of steel' of police and palace security.
Sandringham, where he now lives, is not an official royal residence but a private estate inherited by King Charles from the late Queen. That distinction matters. Security on the 20,000‑acre estate is arranged differently, with estate protection operating in close contact with Norfolk Constabulary, but individual occupants are expected to handle elements of their own protection.
Source: International Business Times UK
