Prince Andy-no-mates cuts a lonely figure at yacht club

These are challenging times for the Duke of York. It was recently revealed his private secretary, Amanda Thirsk, wrote to the Crown estate imploring it to sell one of its prized properties, close to Kensington Palace, to Timur Kulibayev, a Kazakh oil and gas billionaire, at exactly the time Kulibayev agreed to buy the Duke’s former marital home, sunninghill Park, for £15million — £3million above the asking price.

The controversy may be taking its toll, for I learn that the Duke — by nature a gregarious, sociable man — has been taking refuge at the Royal Thames Yacht Club, of which he is Commodore. It has a clubhouse in Knightsbridge, which it describes as ‘a haven for those who want a relaxing and exclusive land base’, with ‘an excellent restaurant’ and a ‘distinguished cellar’.

What makes the Duke’s appearances unusual is the fact that, far from turning up just for the club’s special events, he has taken to dining there in splendid isolation.

‘he sits alone,’ says an old seadog, who adds that the only person in proximity to the Duke is his bodyguard.

This is a shame, because, explains the mariner, the Duke remains a popular figure, whatever his current difficulties. ‘A lot of the members come in hoping to see him.’