Prince Andrew is snapped riding in Windsor amid rumours about who is helping him pay for Royal Lodge bills

Prince Andrew was snapped heading out for a horse ride in Windsor today, accompanied by a groom.

The Duke of York, 64, was wrapped in a warm Winter coat, over a jumper and black trousers as he ventured out in the brisk December weather. He also donned a riding helmet.

Father-of-two Andrew was photographed appearing to sport a somewhat serious look during the outing.

It comes amid reports that despite King Charles allegedly wanting his younger brother to move to Frogmore Cottage, Andrew will continue to live at his large Royal Lodge home in Windsor.

And some have speculated how the Duke will afford the regal home’s expensive upkeep.

Despite claims that the King cut his brother’s allowance for the property’s upkeep, a source recently said these reports are not true. 

‘He [Andrew] just doesn’t have that many friends any more. He barely goes out, he’s not that welcome anywhere,’ said the source.

‘So it’s got to be family, and the obvious person is the King. I mean, why would anybody who’s not family want to give him money when they’re not going to get anything out of it except a lot of flack?’  

The non-working royal is seen riding fairly regularly, despite him generally keeping a low profile since his infamous Newsnight interview in 2019. 

Andrew was pilloried for his TV performance because of a lack of contrition for his friendship with paedophile Jeffrey Epstein and his failure to express sympathy for the dozens of women Epstein trafficked and abused over three decades.

The bombshell interview saw Emily Maitlis grill the Duke on the sex allegations made against him by Virginia Giuffre.

His alibis for not having sex with Virginia three times, including being in Woking’s Pizza Express, have also been widely ridiculed by the public. 

The 64-year-old is no longer a working royal, despite pictures of him at a Balmoral church service last year indicating the Windsors were welcoming him back into the fold.

Royal commentator Richard Fitzwilliams told MailOnline at the time that the photographs of Prince Andrew travelling to church with the Waleses were ‘clearly intended to send a message of family unity’.

But he insisted it was not a sign Andrew could return to public duties in any form.

It has been a dramatic fall from grace for a man, who, as a Royal Navy veteran of 22 years once commanded the respect of a nation. 

The non-working royal was accompanied by a groom as he went for the ride in the brisk Winter weather

He has since given up his HRH titles and had his honorary military roles stripped by the Queen, being denied the right to wear his military uniform on a number of occasions, including as he followed his mother’s coffin.

Andrew quit his role as a trade envoy when pictures emerged of him walking in New York’s Central Park with American financier and convicted paedophile Jeffrey Epstein in 2010.

Images also surfaced of the Prince with his arm around Virginia Giuffre, who claimed that Epstein employed her as a masseuse but exploited her.

Andrew has always denied any wrongdoing and settle the case Ms Giuffre brought against him without admitting liability.