Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor has reportedly been treated to a luxury weekend trip to France, courtesy of a billionaire friend.
Claims have emerged the disgraced former prince travelled by private jet from Norwich to Dinard Airport for a three-day weekend stay at a sprawling horse-breeding estate owned by businessman Mohammed A. Baker.
According to the Daily Mirror, the “relaxing holiday” took place between May 30 and June 1, with Mr Mountbatten-Windsor staying at MAB Stables near the French port city of Saint-Malo.
During the extravagant getaway, the former Duke of York is said to have ridden horses along the beach, played boules and tucked into meals prepared by a private chef.
The trip was reportedly organised and paid for in full by his wealthy host.
Despite Mr Mountbatten-Windsor’s efforts to keep a low-profile on the trip, he was unable to go under the radar of locals, including French racehorse trainer Arthur Desprez who runs his own business nearby.
“Andrew was the guest of Mohammed Baker. He stayed at his house,” he told Mail on Sunday.
According to a farm worker who exposed more details of Mr Mountbatten-Windor’s trip, the former Duke of York would have been living large.
“The royal man came for a few days. He had a bodyguard with him, just one,” they said.
“Mohammed was in France for a few days and must have invited him to stay. It would have been a relaxing weekend. They rode horses together.
“They also played boules together in the courtyard. The prince stayed in the house where Mohammed lives.
“It is a big house and it has lots of bedrooms. And the food and wine when he is your host is of exceptional quality.”
Just days after returning from the overseas escape, the former prince was photographed with a prominent facial bruise during a rare public appearance near his home on the royal family’s Sandringham estate.
He was seen driving near Marsh Farm in Norfolk on June 4, with photographs showing a large purple mark stretching from his right temple across his cheek and towards his eye.
The overseas getaway marked a rare dash from his home at Marsh Farm on the private Sandringham Estate following a string of scandals related to his relationship with convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein during his time as trade envoy and widening investigations over “a number of aspects of alleged misconduct”.
In May, UK police made an extraordinary appeal for witnesses in sexual misconduct claims against Mr Mountbatten-Windsor.
Thames Valley Police released a statement saying they were assessing reports that a woman was taken to Windsor in 2010 for “sexual purposes”.
Mr Mountbatten-Windsor has continuously denied any wrongdoing.
Get the latest news from thewest.com.au in your inbox.
Sign up for our emails