Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor to give evidence in trial of man accused of threatening him at Sandringham

Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor will give evidence against the man accused of threatening him near his Sandringham home.

Alex Jenkinson, 39, allegedly accosted the former prince, 66, on 6 May.

Andrew was walking the late Queen Elizabeth’s corgis in King’s Lynn, Norfolk, at the time.

The charge says that Jenkinson “used towards Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor threatening, abusive or insulting words or behaviour with intent to cause that person to believe that immediate unlawful violence would be used against him by any person, or to provoke the immediate use of unlawful violence by him whereby that person was likely to believe that such violence would be used, or it was likely that such violence would be provoked”.

Jenkinson faces a second like charge, relating to a man named Stephen Terry, in the same location the day before.

A one-day trial will take place on 21 December, Chief Magistrate Paul Goldspring said on Wednesday.

Andrew is due to give evidence at the trial via video-link.

Two other witnesses for the prosecution are also due to give evidence.

Jenkinson was detained under the Mental Health Act for around a month in the immediate aftermath of the alleged incident, and he was then given temporary accommodation in a Travelodge.

The court heard he underwent a psychiatric assessment on Tuesday, and a report is due to be prepared for early August.

At Wednesday’s hearing, the court heard that online searches on Jenkinson’s phone are expected to form part of the evidence at trial.

The full details of the searches were not revealed, other than one involving the words “Prince Andrew” and “birthday”, and in written submissions defence barrister Claire Howell said a police officer has prepared a 341-page download of the phone.

An officer has “conducted keyword searches of the internet browsing history on the download”, and prepared evidence “purporting to exhibit the various downloads which she titled ‘Andrew’, ‘search Sandringham’ and ‘weapons’”.

Jenkinson’s lawyers objected to the way the phone evidence had been prepared, and the court heard an expert forensic police officer is now expected to deliver the evidence for the trial.

Jenkinson, who was not at Wednesday’s hearing, has pleaded guilty to failing to provide a specimen of blood while in custody on May 6.

He denies two charges of using threatening, abusive or insulting behaviour with intent to cause fear of or provoke unlawful violence.

He is on bail on the condition he does not contact Andrew or Mr Terry, enter Norfolk, or go near the royal residences in Sandringham, Balmoral, Windsor, Highgrove or Buckingham Palace.

Andrew himself was arrested in March on suspicion of misconduct in public office over his connections with paedophile financier Jeffrey Epstein. He was later released under investigation.

Andrew, who became the first senior royal in modern history to be arrested, is accused of sharing sensitive information with Epstein while serving as the UK’s trade envoy.

The former duke was detained on his 66th birthday following allegations that he shared reports of official visits to Hong Kong, Vietnam and Singapore with Epstein.

He has vehemently denied any wrongdoing over his Epstein links.

Andrew moved to Marsh Farm on the Sandringham estate earlier this year after his older brother, King Charles, evicted him from Royal Lodge in Windsor.