Prince Andrew enjoys horse
Prince Andrew embarked on his usual Saturday morning horse-riding trip around Windsor Castle today, as questions emerge over his former marital home.
The Duke of York, 64, was deep in conversation with his riding companion as he travelled around the Berkshire estate, enjoying the early spring sunshine.
Andrew was dressed in a khaki jacket, grey jumper, black trousers and a black and white striped helmet for the excursion.
He and his riding companion, who wore a Windsor Castle emblem, chatted as they enjoyed the warmer weather, before heading back towards the castle.
It comes as it emerged that Prince Andrew's former marital home has remained empty since undergoing a multi-million pound rebuild two years ago.
Prince Andrew embarked on his usual Saturday morning horse-riding trip around Windsor Castle today, as questions emerge over his former marital home
Sunninghill Park in Berkshire was sold by the disgraced Duke to Timur Kulibayev, son-in-law of the former president of Kazakhstan, Nursultan Nazarbayev in 2007 for £15million.
Controversially he paid £3million more than the asking price, even though the property had been on the market for five years.
It was later reported that the Duke of York had been acting as a fixer in Mr Kulibayev's business deals. Andrew – who is close to the tycoon's father-in-law, denied any impropriety.
After failing into a state of disrepair, the property was demolished in 2015 with work starting to construct a new, lavish home in its place.
According to sources the project cost close to £18 million, resulting in Mr Kulibayev spending an overall £33 million on acquiring and redeveloping Sunninghill Park.
Work was completed two years ago but astonishingly, despite the eye-watering amounts involved, nobody has lived in Andrew's former home since then, with metal shutters on the windows remaining down and large iron gates at the entrance firmly closed.
One neighbour told MailOnline: 'I don't blame the owners for not wanting to live in it because it's so horrible. I've heard that it's very luxurious inside but what good is that if the outside is so revolting?'
The empty property is patrolled by a team of former Gurkha soldiers.
The Duke of York, 64, was deep in conversation with his riding companion as he travelled around the Berkshire estate, enjoying the early spring sunshine
Then: Sunninghill House, on the edge of Windsor Great Park near to Ascot, which was sold by Prince Andrew in 2007
Five gardeners work at the new Sunninghill Park to maintain its expansive six-acre grounds while a team of cleaners visit each month.
An official at the property said: 'The cleaners are the only ones who go into the home regularly. I've been working here since it was rebuilt, and I've never seen the owner or any of his friends or family.
'None of them have ever stayed the night here. It seems like a lot of money to spend on a luxury home that you are never going to use. It's a bit of a mystery why they've never come here.'
Now: Prince Andrew's former home Sunninghill Park in Berkshire following a multi-million pound rebuild two years ago
Angry neighbours have described the new house as an 'eye sore' that resembles an out-of-town supermarket. It was sold by the disgraced Duke to Timur Kulibayev, son-in-law of the former president of Kazakhstan , Nursultan Nazarbayev in 2007 for £15million
Heavy duty steel window shutters were fitted during the revamp but no one has spent a single night in the property since
The property is located on the edge of Windsor Great Park on land owned by the Crown Estate.
Neighbours told MailOnline that they put up with years of 'hell' as demolition work took place followed by construction of the new home and that they are not happy with the result.
One, who did not want to be named said: 'It's very ugly and looks like a large supermarket in an out-of-town shopping complex. It doesn't fit in with the surrounding area and has completely ruined the view of a stunning park.
'The only plus point is that it's behind a high wall and trees have been planted around it which hopefully will grow tall and hide it. I have to say it's the most disgusting building I have ever seen.'