It was a wedding present from the Queen that fell into rack and ruin and became the last symbol of Prince Andrew’s failed marriage to Sarah Ferguson. The once grand former home of the Duke of York became mired in controversy seven years ago when he sold it to Kazakh tycoon Timur Kulibayev for £15 million – £3 million more than the asking price – and criticism grew as it was left to rot. Now The Mail on Sunday can reveal that plans to demolish the much derided ‘Tesco-style’ mansion in Berkshire and replace it with a similarly lavish house have been thwarted – by bats in the rafters.
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Sunninghill Park in Berkshire was a wedding present from the Queen
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Following couple's failed marriage it was sold to Kazakh billionaire in 2007
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Current owners desperate to bulldoze property and build new luxury home
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But must first find alternative accommodation for 100 rare bats living in roof
@placeholder acknowledged ownership only after a newspaper investigation revealed he had used offshore companies to make the purchase.