Former Prince Andrew is facing another damaging round of scrutiny after a forthcoming royal biography alleged that the disgraced royal kicked one of his Labradors during a shooting party at Sandringham House before allegedly lashing out at a guest who challenged him over the incident.
The allegations appear in royal biographer Andrew Lownie's upcoming book Entitled: The Rise and Fall of the House of York, which examines the controversies surrounding Andrew and the wider York branch of the royal family. The claims, which have not been independently verified, arrive as the prince remains under pressure over security concerns, his diminished public role and the long shadow cast by his association with convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein.
According to extracts reported ahead of publication, the alleged incident occurred during a pheasant shoot attended by royal guests at Sandringham, the Norfolk estate long associated with the late Queen Elizabeth II and the royal family's winter gatherings.
Lownie writes that the shooting party had paused for refreshments when Andrew's Labrador reportedly jumped up and grabbed a sausage roll from the hand of an unnamed guest. What followed, according to the account, stunned those present.
The author alleges Andrew responded by kicking the dog in the head, leaving the animal "whimpering on the ground." The unnamed guest reportedly confronted the prince immediately, saying: "That is the most disgusting thing that you have just done to your beautiful dog. You should be ashamed of yourself!"
According to Lownie's version of events, Andrew responded furiously. "F*** off. It is none of your business and I will do precisely what I want to my dogs," the prince allegedly replied.
Neither Buckingham Palace nor representatives for Andrew publicly responded to the allegations in the original reporting, and no corroborating evidence or on-the-record witnesses have so far emerged. The claims remain solely those contained in Lownie's book.
One of the more striking details in the reported account involves the late Prince Philip. Lownie claims the Duke of Edinburgh later privately praised the guest for confronting Andrew, allegedly saying: "What you said to my son today was absolutely right and Her Majesty and I fully agree with what you said. Andrew needs a good scolding from time to time."
If accurate, the exchange would represent an unusually candid criticism of Andrew from within his own family. But, like the central allegation itself, the conversation has not been independently confirmed.
The renewed attention comes at a particularly sensitive moment for Andrew, whose already damaged public standing has deteriorated further in recent years. Once viewed as a central figure within the monarchy, the duke stepped back from royal duties after fallout tied to his friendship with Epstein and the legal scandal involving Virginia Giuffre.
More recently, Andrew has reportedly been lobbying for the restoration of taxpayer-funded security after an alleged confrontation near his residence on the Sandringham Estate. According to police statements, officers arrested 39-year-old Alex Jenkinson following an incident in which Andrew was allegedly approached by a man wearing a balaclava while walking his dogs.
Jenkinson was charged with two counts of using threatening, abusive or insulting words or behaviour with intent to harass or cause alarm or distress. He was also charged with failing to provide a blood specimen while in custody. No plea has yet been entered.
People close to Andrew have reportedly argued that the incident demonstrates the continuing risks surrounding the prince despite his withdrawal from public royal life. His security protection was significantly scaled back after he ceased being a working royal, a decision that reportedly remains a source of frustration for him.
