The Duke of York, now known as Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor, made a surprise appearance at a royal event over the weekend, marking one of his few public outings since being stripped of his titles and banished from official royal duties .

Andrew was spotted at the Sandringham Horse Driving Trials on Sunday, where he joined his brother Prince Edward and sister-in-law Sophie, Duchess of Edinburgh, at the Norfolk estate . The disgraced former royal arrived early in his Land Rover Defender and departed shortly after Sophie completed her competition round .

According to witnesses, Andrew appeared to make a deliberate effort to avoid attention during his brief visit. One attendee told reporters that Andrew "snuck in and snuck out" and "definitely didn't want to be seen" . The former prince reportedly watched from a secluded area away from the main arena, remaining under the cover of trees while supporting his sister-in-law .

Sophie was competing in the SanDrivingHam Challenge, which tests driving skills and horse presentation. She remained at the event throughout the afternoon, while both Andrew and Prince Edward left shortly after her round concluded .

This marks the first time Andrew has been seen at a public event since his arrest in February on suspicion of misconduct in public office . He has maintained an exceptionally low profile since being evicted from Royal Lodge and relocating to the King's Sandringham estate .

The appearance follows reports that Prince Edward and Sophie visited Andrew for a private dinner before Easter, described by sources as a wellness check amid concerns about his health . They are among the few family members who have maintained contact with the shamed royal since his fall from grace .

Buckingham Palace sources have previously emphasized that King Charles has had no direct contact with his brother . The monarch has maintained distance from Andrew following the scandals surrounding his association with convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein .