Prince Andrew's 'odd Royal Lodge game' that Sarah Ferguson 'doesn't like'

Prince Andrew plays a bizarre game with the staff at Royal Lodge that his ex-wife Sarah Ferguson takes a "dim view" of, it has been alleged. Andrew's "lifelong teddy bear obsession" has reemerged in the news after the publication of an explosive new biography by historian Andrew Lownie, entitled 'The Rise and Fall of the House of York'.

In 2022, a strange anecdote surfaced about the beleaguered prince's reported stash of 50 to 60 teddy bears. An ex-royal officer even claimed that Andrewwould "scream and shout" if his staff didn't perform a specific task involving the toys.

Speaking in the ITV documentary 'Ghislaine, Prince Andrew and the Paedophile', former protection officer Paul Page claimed that the Duke would fly into a rage if his servants didn't place them in a certain way at Buckingham Palace.

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A handwritten guide also offered insights into his sizeable collection, which purportedly included bears, a panther, hippos and three cushions with the unusual monikers of 'Daddy', 'Ducks' and 'Prince'.

It wasn't simply an itinerary but featured directions on where to put blankets, a fur, and five toys. According to the Mail's Ephraim Hardcastle, the Duke's affinity for toy animals doesn't end there.

A Palace source told the Mail: "When he lived at Buck House he'd also hide his toy monkey in unlikely places to test whether cleaning staff would spot it...woe betide them if they didn't."

They added: "Staff at Royal Lodge still have to play Prince Andrew's game - unless Sarah is resident. She takes a dim view of it."

Andrew, who left his royalduties back in 2019 after his car crash Newsnight interview, has been embroiled in a number of controversies in recent years. They include his links to an alleged Chinesespy, his tenancy of Royal Lodge and connection to the late paedophile Jeffrey Epstein.

The Duke has denied any wrongdoing during his time with Epstein, while alleged spy Yang Tengbo requested that his anonymity be lifted and insisted that the spy claim was "entirely untrue".

Earlier this week, amidst allegations outlined in Lownie's bombshell book, the Duke broke cover and was sighted leaving for a walk. As photographs of this excursion came to light, body language expert Judi James shared her thoughts.

After examining the snaps, she explained that it was "less about" what's changed in Andrew's body language, but rather what's "missing". She also noted that Andrew appeared to have shed his "rounded-eyed, haunted expression".

Judi went on to say that the Duke's frown had "melted slightly" and his expression lacked any obvious signs of tension. Alleging that he was known for "looks of haughty arrogance", Judi pointed out that he now looks "less immersed" in "signals of status and entitlement".

Judi added: "His mouth is closed but his lips aren't clamped, and his shoulders look relatively relaxed. One pic like this might not capture his current mood in its entirety but it might hint at a more philosophical and less defiant approach now."

A spokesperson for Sarah Ferguson declined to comment.