The future of Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor is currently subject to intense speculation, particularly concerning a potential relocation to Bahrain. This speculation has been fueled by a recent secret summit involving King Charles and the King of Bahrain, Hamad bin Isa Al Khalifa, held in the Cotswolds.

The meeting occurred on November 11 at Hamad bin Isa Al Khalifa’s Oxfordshire estate, less than two weeks after Andrew was stripped of his royal titles and home. While palace courtiers downplayed its significance as a private meeting between two old friends, sources suggest its timing adds weight to the idea of Andrew seeking a new life in Bahrain. The King’s attendance at this meeting on a busy Remembrance Day, and his use of a helicopter – a mode of transport he previously aimed to avoid for official engagements due to environmental concerns – further highlights the perceived importance of the summit. The 43-mile trip from Windsor to Glympton Park took 23 minutes, and the two monarchs reportedly conversed for over an hour before King Charles returned to host a reception for Forces veterans.

Andrew has long-standing ties to Bahrain, a former British protectorate, and has been a regular visitor since his tenure as a UK trade ambassador. He is known to be close to King Hamad and his son, Crown Prince Salman, with sources indicating he enjoys being “fussed over and made to feel royal again” there. Notably, Bahrain does not have an extradition agreement with the United States, where Andrew has faced requests to testify regarding his connections with Jeffrey Epstein. In 2022, Andrew made his first trip abroad since his controversial BBC Newsnight interview, flying to Bahrain by private jet.

Further complicating Andrew’s already tarnished public image are new, shocking allegations concerning his relationship with Jeffrey Epstein. An unnamed glamorous actress claims that Andrew introduced her to Epstein during a visit to Windsor Castle in October 1999, subsequently encouraging her to spend time with the financier, including flying on his private jet, dubbed the “Lolita Express.” This alleged introduction and encouragement occurred more than a year before Epstein trafficked 17-year-old Virginia Giuffre to London, who later claimed she was forced to have sex with Andrew on three occasions – allegations Andrew has consistently denied. The actress, who has since received a financial payout as one of Epstein's victims, revealed that Andrew was allegedly not surprised when she confided in him about Epstein's inappropriate behavior, claiming he admitted someone else had made a similar allegation.

The actress, attempting to forge a career in film and TV at the time, flew on Epstein's jet multiple times and visited his mansions in Palm Beach, Florida, and his private Caribbean island, experiencing repeated sexual abuse. Her decision to come forward was reportedly inspired by Virginia Giuffre's courage and her tragic passing. Despite emailing Epstein a supportive message after his July 2019 arrest, her lawyer explained this was a result of a “trauma bond” and coercive control, not a reflection of her true feelings. Andrew's alleged reassurance to her that he “trusted Jeffrey and Ghislaine” Maxwell, and that she “should listen to Jeffrey's counsel,” adds a disturbing layer to these claims. Documents released earlier this month also showed this email, which her lawyer addressed as not reflecting her true sentiments due to psychological manipulation.

In light of these continuous controversies, Andrew has been formally stripped of most of his royal titles and honours. On November 6, King Charles removed his brother's prince title and HRH status via a rare Letters Patent, effectively making him a commoner and instructing his removal from Royal Lodge at Windsor. Andrew is expected to move to a private residence on the King’s Sandringham estate, though sources suggest the move could take months. His ex-wife, Sarah Ferguson, is reportedly considering relocating to Portugal for the winter.

Despite the King's request four weeks prior, Andrew still retains his honorary rank of vice-admiral in the Royal Navy, his last remaining title. Senior military figures and Defence Secretary John Healey have called for the government to “get on with it” and remove the title, emphasizing that this is a governmental responsibility, not the King's. Andrew was awarded the vice-admiral rank for his 55th birthday in 2015 after 22 years of service, with a promotion to admiral deferred after his 2019 Newsnight interview. The Ministry of Defence states the process is “ongoing” but has not provided a timeline or reason for the delay, despite the swift removal of other high-ranking naval officers in the past. Andrew's reputation has been further damaged by the Epstein scandal, Giuffre's posthumous autobiography, and newly released emails showing continued contact with Epstein after publicly cutting ties. The diplomatic community in the Gulf has previously described Andrew with unflattering terms such as “HBH: His Buffoon Highness” and “rude” and “cocky.”