Prince Andrew looks grumpy as he rides a horse in Windsor days before King Charles is set to ‘drop his private security team’

Prince Andrew was spotted on a leisurely horse ride this morning, just over a week before he is reportedly set to lose access to his ten-strong security team that King Charles privately pays for.

The Duke of York, 64, drove around the grounds of Windsor Castle today in his Range Rover while surrounded by members of his private security team.

After mounting his horse, the prince wore a black riding helmet, a burgundy jumper and a khaki raincoat to protect himself from the gray weather as he trotted around the royal residence.

His low-key exit comes as sources say the king no longer wants to foot the bill for his brother’s security.

Andrew lost his publicly funded protection officers in 2019 when he was ordered to step down as a working member of the royal family amid the Jeffrey Epstein scandal.

Prince Andrew spotted in a burgundy jumper and black helmet as he embarked on a horse ride in the grounds of Windsor Castle this morning

The Prince drives his Range Rover and is accompanied by members of his security team, who are privately funded by King Charles.

The Duke quietly stepped back from royal life and stripped himself of his military titles after being ripped apart by Emily Maitlis on BBC Newsnight over his friendship with convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein.

Members of the royal family are usually protected by Metropolitan Police officers, but amid the Epstein scandal, the late Queen privately paid for a security team to keep an eye on her second child.

The arrangement continued after Her Majesty’s death in 2022, but according to recent reports, King Charles no longer wants to foot the bill for his brother’s security.

According to The Sun on Sunday, members of Prince Andrew’s ten-strong security team have said their services will not be required from November.

King Charles is believed to be removing Andrew’s protection in a tactical move to force him out of the Royal Lodge.

The Duke currently resides in the £30 million property in the grounds of Windsor Castle with his ex-wife Sarah Ferguson, affectionately known as Fergie.

An insider told the publication: “Everyone is speculating that this means the Duke will have to leave the Royal Lodge because what other reason could there be to remove his security?

“They are all working out the final weeks of their contracts until the end of October. No one is believed to be lined up to replace them.

Sources say the Duke of York, 64, will lose his security team in November

King Charles is said to be losing patience with his brother Prince Andrew over his continued refusal to leave the Royal Lodge. In the photo: The couple in 2022

Andrew, 64, has insisted on staying at Royal Lodge (pictured) despite stepping down from official duties almost five years ago.

Andrew signed a 75-year lease with the Crown Estate when he moved into the Royal Lodge in 2003, making a down payment of £1m.

The deal included a notional rent of £260,000 a year.

The dilapidated property is in urgent need of repairs and restoration, which is why experts believe the lodge should be returned to Crown Estates.

An insider told The Sun: “Then it could be rented out to make money for them, the coffers of the king and the country rather than being a drain on everyone’s resources.”

Sources say the royal may even cut the £4m a year he pays his younger brother to kick him out of the 30-bedroom lodge in Windsor Great Park.

Instead of Royal Lodge, King Charles wants Andrew and Fergie to live in the more modest five-bed Frogmore Cottage, which belonged to Harry and Meghan before they left the UK.

Buckingham Palace declined to confirm the reports.