Hitting his ball down the fairway without a care in the world, Prince Andrew today put the Jeffrey Epstein sex scandal behind him to enjoy a £500 round of golf.
The 59-year-old royal was pictured with his bodyguard at the Real Club Valderrama, one of the most exclusive courses in Europe, in the south of Spain.
‘He looked very relaxed, and simply interested in his golf ball,’ said another player on the course in Sotogrande, Sat Rogue, close to Gibraltar.
The Duke of York has been keeping a low profile in the luxurious development of Sotogrande and playing golf at Valderrama
Andrew, wearing a light blue polo shirt, was pictured at the Real Club Valderrama, one of Europe’s most exclusive courses
The Prince was said to have been ‘panicked’ amid renewed scrutiny over his friendship with paedophile Jeffrey Epstein
The Duke of York was driven by limousine to the luxury Sotogrande resort, where he has holidayed since 2009
‘Andrew did not seem to have much to say to the man he was playing with – they were both simply concentrating on the golf.’
Andrew, wearing a light blue polo shirt and cream slacks, is thought to have left his ex-wife Sarah Ferguson at the pool in the nearby villa where they are enjoying a short holiday.
The Prince was said to have been ‘panicked’ amid renewed scrutiny over his friendship with the paedophile, and the Duchess of York was hoping to be able to ‘look after him’ in Southern Spain.
Prince Andrew has repeatedly denied any knowledge of Epstein’s alleged behaviour.
Buckingham Palace said in a statement said this week: ‘The Duke of York has been appalled by the recent reports of Jeffrey Epstein’s alleged crimes… and the suggestion he would condone, participate in or encourage any such behaviour is abhorrent.’
The exclusive Real Club Valderrama (file picture) in Sotogrande is one of the best-known golf clubs in Europe
The former couple landed in Spain earlier this week and are now spending time in a villa in Sotogrande (file picture)
Divorced couple Andrew and Fergie, who are rumoured to have rekindled their relationship, were seen getting off a private jet at Malaga Airport last week following Epstein’s suicide in New York.
The Duke and Duchess were driven by limousine to the luxury Sotogrande resort, where they have holidayed together since 2009 often in their favourite private villa valued at upwards of £38million.
Their NetJets flight from London to the Costa del Sol would probably have cost between £12,000 and £20,000 one-way.
The Duke of York had been expected to spend a whole week at the Queen’s Scottish estate, but was pictured last Tuesday afternoon boarding a private jet in Aberdeen before heading to the Spanish south coast with his ex-wife.
He is understood to have met with the Duchess at Farnborough Airport in Hampshire, where they flew together to Malaga. The main house they have used in the past is surrounded by secluded woodland and fragrant pine trees.
Prince Andrew left Balmoral in Aberdeenshire on a private jet last week before flying to Spain with Sarah Ferguson
Prince Andrew takes a stroll through New York’s Central Park with Jeffrey Epstein following the financier’s prison term in 2011
Prince Andrew and Virginia Roberts, 17, at Ghislaine Maxwell’s townhouse in London on March 13, 2001. Buckingham Palace says it is ’emphatically denied that the Duke of York had any form of sexual contact or relationship’ with Miss Roberts
Security includes a high electric gate – and, once through that, it’s about a mile before arriving at the main building. A 12ft perimeter fence at the back of the property also helps deter unwanted visitors.
With 350 acres of prime parkland and pasture, lakes, woods and a polo ground, the secluded estate was recently valued at £38million.
Two weekends ago, the Queen sat next to her son on their way to church on the grounds of Balmoral, a day after it emerged Epstein has killed himself in a US jail.
The Prince shared a car with his mother and daughter, Princess Beatrice, to Kirk on the Scottish estate, while Charles and Camilla drove themselves.
Buckingham Palace said they did not comment on travel arrangements, but it is believed it was a ‘planned departure’ and he did not cut his trip short.