Andrew could flee the UK and start again with ‘lavish life as an exile in Abu Dhabi’, experts believe

Andrew Mountbatten Windsor may have been stripped of being a prince – but could he make it as a sheikh?

Now the former prince has been unceremoniously booted out of the Royal Lodge, many experts believe he will end up in the Middle East away from the media digging into his past exploits.

Historian Andrew Lownie, author of Entitled: The Rise and Fall of the House of York, said: ‘He would be happy living somewhere where the media is muzzled, where he will still be treated as a senior royal and where he can easily live under the radar.

‘His personal relationships with young women are not likely to be scrutinised in Abu Dhabi.’

Royal biographer Andrew Morton told Times Radio: ‘I would predict that, if we’re speaking about this time next year, Andrew will probably live somewhere abroad.’

One of his options if the scandal doesn’t wash away soon and he chooses to leave Sandringham could be Abu Dhabi – thanks to his long standing friendship with its ruler Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, 64, also known as MBZ.

The pair bonded when Andrew visited the United Arab Emirates through his role as a trade envoy in the early 2000s.

According to The Sun, Mr Windsor has been offered a 16,000sq ft palace from the Emirates’ billionaire ruler.

The six-bedroom palace has an indoor gym, pool, cinema and a kitchen staffed by cordon bleu chefs 24/7.

The site lies within the walls of a heavily guarded complex with other sheikhs and ministers live surrounded by a 30ft hedge.

A worker at one of the palaces told The Sun: ‘The whole area is private and very secure. The public are not allowed in and there are cameras which log every vehicle which approaches.

‘The area is effectively under the radar.

‘We have not heard anything official yet about Andrew moving in but he would enjoy it here because it is very private.’

Even his daughter Beatrice, who kept her princess title, was pictured at an investment summit in Saudi Arabia recently.

Her family have long-held links to the Middle East and she also appeared in a promotional picture for a UAE bank as the sword fell on her father. They are all known to enjoy the F1 Grand Prix held there.

A source said: ‘Abu Dhabi’s royal family have made it clear to Andrew that the palace is his if he wants it. It gives him an option should his position in the UK become untenable.

‘He has come under ­enormous pressure following recent developments and the King and Prince William are nearing the point where they’ve had enough.’

‘Andrew would be afforded every luxury if he makes the move to the UAE but the climate will take him — and Fergie — some time to get used to. Temperatures often top 50C in the summer, meaning he would have to spend much of his time with air conditioning indoors.’

If Andrew accepts the offer they would become neighbours with another disgraced royal in exile, Spain’s former King Juan Carlos who himself had a string of sex scandals.

It is understood that King Charles is in the process of sending royal warrants to the Lord Chancellor, David Lammy, to remove Andrew’s titles and honours.

This means the disgraced royal is now a commoner – and there is new pressure on the authorities to investigate him.