Prince Andrew is reportedly following a strict New Year diet, but some staff members claim that it has put him in a foul mood.
This comes in the wake of court documents being unsealed in the US, which allege his involvement in an underage orgy and sex tapes, allegations that he denies.
The Duke of York, aged 63, has been staying at his 31-room mansion, Royal Lodge, as he continues his weight loss program.
Blaming the Diet
According to a source, "Andrew has been in a terrible mood and more grumpy than usual. But it has nothing to do with the unsealed court files. It's because he is on a special diet. He hates it and it makes him irritable."
It is worth noting that Andrew's health journey comes after reports last year that his brother, King Charles, refused to pay for his £32,000-a-year bill for an Indian healer.
The male yogi reportedly treated Andrew with chanting, massages, and holistic therapy, staying at his mansion for about a month.
Retreating to Royal Lodge
Yesterday, Andrew was seen driving his Land Rover Defender to Windsor Castle. However, he returned to Royal Lodge around 1 pm, where he has reportedly chosen to "lock himself away in a room" to avoid the fallout from the Jeffrey Epstein scandal.
King Charles has been attempting to distance himself from his younger brother since the unsealed court documents surfaced, leading to increased calls for Andrew to be stripped of his title and removed from Royal Lodge.
It is said that the King wants Andrew out of the home, where he has resided for two decades. However, Andrew reportedly has a 75-year lease that doesn't expire until 2078.
The Allegations
The unsealed documents included claims that Andrew participated in an underage orgy on Epstein's private island, known as "paedophile island."
The papers also alleged that sex tapes involving Andrew were made by the deceased billionaire Epstein. Additionally, they contained claims that Andrew had "knowledge of jailed Ghislaine Maxwell and Jeffrey Epstein's trafficking conduct."
Over 1,000 documents were revealed as part of a lawsuit brought against Maxwell by sex abuse accuser Virginia Giuffre.
Andrew has expressed regret for his friendship with Epstein and settled with Giuffre for millions of pounds in an out-of-court settlement in 2022, without admitting liability.
