Impatient prince in Windsor-gate

Prince Andrew reportedly got into a scrape after his Range Rover was damaged in his attempt to get through the gates to his Windsor home and avoid a 1.5km detour. Photo / NZPA

Prince Andrew reportedly got into a scrape after his Range Rover was damaged in his attempt to get through the gates to his Windsor home and avoid a 1.5km detour.

When the automatic sensors did not work, he tried to force the gates open by ramming the £80,000 ($168,230) vehicle into them, according to The Sun.

The metal gates guard the entrance to Windsor Great Park, where the 56-year-old lives in the Royal Lodge, the former residence of the Queen Mother. He was given the Lodge by the Queen in 2003.

The park is said to have been left with a bill running into the thousands to repair the damage.

Buckingham Palace declined to comment on the incident, and refused to say who would have to pay for the repairs to the car and gate.

A park worker told the Sun: "It was a crazy thing to do and we are calling it Park Gate.

"But seriously, he has a bit of a reputation for roaring around like Toad of Toad Hall and he seems to think he can do what he likes."

The gates are supposed to stop deer roaming.

The Windsor estate is run by the Crown Estate, a commercial business that owns property on behalf of the Queen. A spokeswoman for the Crown Estate declined to comment.

The Duke of York has had car troubles in the past, receiving a parking ticket in 2013 for leaving his Range Rover unattended on double yellow lines. A parking attendant is believed to have later removed the ticket.