Broadlands Estate say its business as usual despite the departure of Lord Brabourne to the Caribbean.

Estates manager, Richard Jordan Baker, confirmed that Lord Brabourne, 62, a cousin of the Queen, would be spending most of his time in the Bahamas for the foreseeable future.

Lord Brabourne described his life now as “...retirement, but still with a huge, active interest in Broadlands and a dedication to ensuring its longevity so it can be passed on to future generations.”

However, Mr Jordan Baker said Lady Brabourne would stay on at Broadlands and would be taking a full-time role in the running of the 4,000-acre estate, which her husband inherited from his grandfather, Earl Mountbatten of Burma, following his assassination by the IRA in 1979.

The baron, a close friend of Prince Charles, would return to England regularly and was due back in the country in September.

Mr Jordan Baker denied reports in the national press that Lord Brabourne owned a luxury five-bedroom home on a private island in the Bahamas. “The couple do not own any other homes than Broadlands. He is staying with friends.”

Mr Jordan Baker also denied that the new arrangement meant the couple would divorce.

The couple have two children – Nicholas, 29, and Alexandra, 28. A third child, Leonora, died from cancer, aged five, in 1991.

“Their primary aim is to be able to pass this estate on to their children,” said Mr Jordan Baker. “They see it as their duty and they also feel responsible to their tenants and staff.”

Broadlands’ 22 staff were informed of the Bahamas move at a special meeting last month.

“In Lord Brabourne’s absence, Lady Brabourne will move from a part-time to a full-time interest in the running of the estate,” said Mr Jordan-Baker.

“She’s already cancelled many social engagements to be here.”

“She takes her role very seriously and the estate is in perfectly safe hands.”

Mr Jordan Baker said Lady Brabourne wanted to improve the estate’s relationship with the town. Relations became strained in the early 1990s following Lord Brabourne’s unpopular plan to allow an out-of-town supermarket to be built on the estate. There were demonstrations against the scheme, which was rejected by a planning inspector.

Lady Brabourne, 57, a regular carriage-driving companion of the Duke of Edinburgh, is currently living in Broadlands’ converted dairy while the 59-room mansion has its heating and rewiring replaced. She is expected to move back into the house in the second half of 2011.

Despite the £4m plus cost of refurbishing the house, partly funded by £2.8 million earned from the sale of the Broadlands Archive, Mr Jordan Baker said the estate’s finances were “satisfactory” and “moving in a positive direction.”

Since he inherited the estate, Lord Brabourne has also been a High Steward of Romsey.

It is understood he is willing to continue as steward but would relinquish the title if called upon to do so.

The clerk of Romsey Town Council was unavailable to comment of the stewardship question.