Airmiles Andy f lies off in private jet with Fergie (but at least he’s paying for it)
THEY pride themselves on being the most happily divorced couple around.
So much so that the Duchess of York joined Prince Andrew and their daughter Princess Eugenie as they arrived in Aberdeen yesterday to holiday with the Queen at Balmoral.
But despite there being regular flights from London to the city for as little as £62, the group flew in on a private jet.
The Queen’s son, known as ‘Airmiles Andy’ because of his fondness for overseas travel, walked off the plane first and instructed royal household staff to move luggage from the charter plane into a waiting Range Rover.
He then headed back inside the jet, reappearing with one of his Norfolk Terrier dogs and then taking the driving seat.
Sarah Ferguson, wearing a blue jacket and emerald green scarf, came out next and sat in the passenger seat.
Princess Eugenie 27, finally appeared in a stylish fitted black jacket and white dress, followed by another of the family’s dogs being helped off the plane, before Andrew drove them off.
Fergie, 57, was seen smiling for the cameras. The plane, paid for privately, was a Cessna 680A. It appears to be owned by Netjets Europe, which allows users the advantages of owning a private jet without having to pay for it.
Customers are guaranteed access to a plane at ten hours’ notice and they only pay for the hours they fly.
It was not clear whether the prince was a member of the service or whether he was loaned the aircraft.
The only person missing from the happy family group was their eldest daughter, Beatrice, who turned 29 yesterday. She is understood to be on holiday – not entirely surprising given she once squeezed in at least 17 foreign jaunts in less than a year.
Last year she was said to be starting her own business consultancy firm after going through four jobs in five years.
She is expected to join them later this month. Andrew and his daughters plan to spend several weeks at Balmoral enjoying time with the lady they call ‘Super Gran’.
The royals tend to enjoy long walks and shooting as well as barbecues and rides out. Although they have been divorced for more than 20 years, Andrew and Sarah say they are the best of friends.
They still live together at the prince’s home in Windsor and co-own a chalet in the Swiss ski resort of Verbier.
They have both spoken extensively of the importance of co-parenting when it comes to their daughters.
The duchess endured years of being a royal outcast following her divorce from Andrew and the embarrassment of suffering severe financial difficulties not once but twice, as well as being caught up in a tabloid newspaper sting.
She was finally invited back to join the Queen at Balmoral a few years ago but always arrives and departs before the Duke of Edinburgh, who apparently insists he won’t have her in house while he is there.
Philip, 96, is currently enjoying the start of his well-deserved retirement at Sandringham, the Queen’s Norfolk estate, with a group of friends.
The duke will join his wife, who has been at Craigowan Lodge for a fortnight before moving into Balmoral on Monday, next week.
The couple will remain in Scotland until early October, visited at various times by family and friends.
Still the best of friends