Don't expect a princely welcome

Ahead of Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor's arrival at Marsh Farm, his new neighbours reveal fears

- BY ANDREW PAPWORTH

It takes me just a few minutes after arriving in the sleepy Norfolk village of Wolferton to discover what residents really think of their deeply controversial new neighbour, Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor.

The disgraced former Duke of York is moving to the ramshackle and isolated Marsh Farm, on the Sandringham Estate, after being stripped of his royal titles following the Jeffrey Epstein scandal.

Buried down a desolate single-track road, it is one of the remotest places you could imagine - and clearly a breathtaking comedown for someone used to a gilded life of luxury. While it has a rural charm, many of the estate's properties seem old, dilapidated and in need of repair. Builders and even a Sky TV engineer have been seen at the site carrying out extensive renovation work.

Nestled next to a nature reserve, Wolferton's outdoor beauty is second to none, yet a world away from the glitz and glamour of Andrew's previous home of Royal Lodge, Windsor. Visiting to learn more about the tiny village of about 50 houses the shamed ex-prince will soon call home, I bump into a resident out for her morning run.

After telling me how peaceful Wolferton is and how respectful everyone is of it being King Charles's country retreat, I carry on with my walk when I notice her running back towards me, trying to get my attention. She has something important to say.

"I just want to say that I think Andrew is an absolute disgrace," she fumes. "We live among the royals, and everyone is very respectful of that.

"With the greatest respect to the Royal Family, I think it will spoil the village. I'm disappointed that he's been moved within the village when the Crown Estate has other places. They could've put him somewhere away from it.