Masked Man Charged with Harassing Prince Andrew Near Norfolk Home

Former Prince Andrew was shaken after a masked man accosted him near his Norfolk home on Wednesday.

Norfolk Police responded to reports of a man behaving in an intimidating manner in the village. Officers arrested him on suspicion of a public order offense and possession of an offensive weapon. Alex Jenkinson, 39, of Stowmarket, Suffolk, has been charged with two counts of using threatening, abusive or insulting words or behavior to harass someone or cause alarm or distress, and failing to provide a specimen of blood in custody, officials told Fox News Digital.

Jenkinson approached Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor while wearing a mask and shouted abuse at him as he walked his dogs near the home. He pleaded not guilty to the charges in court on May 8.

British broadcaster and photographer Helena Chard told Fox News Digital the confrontation left Andrew shaken and worried for his safety, reopening discussion on his security. "There are rumours he wants his old security back, although he was unscathed," she said. "His private protection officer dealt with the confrontation and aftermath. The King is understood to be funding Andrew's ‘exile’ at Marsh Farm, including former royal protection cops. They are not armed. Allegedly some stay in a cabin in the back garden."

Chard said the property has fences, CCTV and a security gate. Royal broadcaster Ian Pelham Turner told Fox News Digital that King Charles partly funds Andrew's private security team. Turner said it was lucky one of his paid private security team members was with him, and the team may need to increase to strengthen his safety.

"Personally, every citizen in Britain should feel safe and protected, especially highly well-known figures, and so Andrew should be given more protection, otherwise more attempts could be made on his life, which would cause distress and disarray within the royal family," Turner said.

British royal expert Hilary Fordwich was not surprised by the incident. "This is totally to be expected because the public is absolutely disgusted regarding his despicable behavior," she said. "Instead of wanting more security, he should really stay in sort of a house arrest just keep to himself and not even go out. Then he wouldn’t have to face the public or have these worries. That would be the decent thing to do, but he’s not renowned for doing decent things."

Chard conceded Andrew's Epstein ties, arrest and police investigation have made him a target, but many believe he is privately more than adequately protected. Andrew was arrested in February on suspicion of misconduct in public office after King Charles stripped him of all royal titles and honors amid scandals from his relationship with convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein.

He stepped back as a senior royal in 2019 after his BBC Newsnight interview explaining his friendship with Epstein. Epstein victim Virginia Roberts Giuffre named Andrew, claiming she was forced to have sex with him three times, including when she was 17. Giuffre died by suicide in 2025.

"Reviewing Andrew's security is one thing, but talk of reinstating Met Police armed protection is already sparking public backlash, and understandably so," Chard said. "Realistically, his security status won’t change. That ship has sailed. And if it did, the public and Prince Harry would almost certainly have something to say about it. The security debate will come up from time to time. Andrew will continue to sleep with one eye open."