A pest control vehicle was observed arriving at Marsh Farm in Wolferton, Norfolk, this morning as preparations continue for Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor's relocation to the property.
Command Pest Control, a firm holding a Royal Warrant that operates throughout East Anglia, specialises in eliminating unwanted rodents, including rats and mice, as well as squirrels and wasp nests.
The precise nature of their visit remains unclear, though workers have reportedly been busy readying the five-bedroom former farmhouse for the disgraced ex-royal's arrival.
The property, situated on the King's Sandringham estate, has stood vacant for several years following the previous tenant farmer's death and is currently undergoing substantial refurbishment work.
Andrew's Norfolk move progresses as pest control vehicle spotted near 'shoebox-sized house'
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Rodents pose a persistent challenge across the Sandringham estate due to a longstanding prohibition on keeping cats at the King's properties.
The late Queen Elizabeth II implemented this restriction out of concern that felines would hunt the chicks of game birds bred on the grounds.
According to Command Pest Control's website, January proves particularly problematic for rat infestations: "When it is cold and frosty, their numbers reduce dramatically in prolonged spells of cold.
"Therefore they tend to try to enter buildings looking for warmth and can be seen close to properties, sometimes heard in roof voids and cavity walls."
Renovation efforts are currently progressing at Marsh Farm | PAThe village of Flitcham, located just two miles from Sandringham House, experienced a rat invasion two years ago.
Beyond the rodent concerns, Marsh Farm faces another significant hazard due to its position on a flood plain.
The former farmhouse sits near a bog that poses a genuine threat of water inundation, prompting warnings for local residents.
According to reports, those living in the area have been urged to register for flood alerts should existing protective measures prove insufficient against potential torrents from the nearby wetland.
Workers at Marsh Farm on the Sandringham Estate | PALATEST ROYAL NEWS:
Members of the media outside Marsh Farm on the Sandringham Estate in Norfolk
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This additional complication emerges as contractors work at pace to complete renovations on the property, which Andrew will initially occupy as temporary accommodation while longer-term arrangements are finalised.
Andrew was spotted riding his horse near Royal Lodge earlier today, the Windsor mansion he has called home for 22 years and must now vacate by the month's end.
Removal lorries have already begun transporting his possessions from the property, with one royal source telling the Daily Mail: "A lorry has been and gone under the cover of darkness.
"Andrew is going to a shoebox-sized house, compared to Royal Lodge, so a lot of the things that were taken are going into a storage unit."
The former disgraced duke is said to have reluctantly accepted his fate, provided he has access to Sky television, reliable internet and nearby equestrian and golfing facilities.