Royal Easter Absence: Andrew and Daughters Skip Windsor Service Amid Scrutiny
Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor and his daughters, Princess Beatrice and Princess Eugenie, will not be present at the traditional Easter Sunday service at Windsor Castle today. It is understood that the disgraced former Duke of York and the princesses have made alternative arrangements with the agreement of King Charles III. This marks a significant shift from last year's event, where Charles and Queen Camilla were joined by Andrew and his ex-wife, Sarah Ferguson, at the historic St George's Chapel.
Royal Attendance and Historical Context
In contrast, the Prince and Princess of Wales will attend the Easter Matins service alongside the King and Queen for the first time in two years. Last year, the Wales couple missed the service as they spent the weekend with their children in Norfolk, and they were also absent in 2024, shortly after Princess Catherine released an emotional video message disclosing her preventative chemotherapy treatment.
The Easter service occurs just days after Buckingham Palace confirmed that King Charles' visit to the United States will proceed as scheduled from April 27 to April 30, despite ongoing tensions between President Donald Trump and Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer over the Iran war.
Andrew's Legal Troubles and Title Stripping
Since last Easter, Andrew has faced severe repercussions due to his association with the late paedophile financier Jeffrey Epstein. King Charles stripped his brother of both his princely status and his dukedom, though Beatrice and Eugenie retained their princess titles. Virginia Giuffre, who died by suicide last year, alleged that she was forced to have sex with Andrew three times, including when she was 17 years old.
In February, Andrew was arrested on his 66th birthday on suspicion of misconduct in public office, following allegations that he shared sensitive information with Epstein during his tenure as the UK's trade envoy. Andrew has denied any wrongdoing related to his links to Epstein concerning Ms Giuffre, but he has not directly addressed the latest allegations.
Scrutiny Over Epstein Files and Body Language Analysis
Beatrice and Eugenie have also come under scrutiny after their names appeared in the recently released Epstein files, adding to the family's controversies. Meanwhile, a body language expert has analysed Andrew's behaviour during a previous Easter service in 2023, claiming he attempted to assert his "blue blood" status over royal rival Sir Tim Laurence.
According to Judi James, Andrew was captured holding a gate open for clergy, Princess Anne, and Sarah Ferguson as they exited St George's Chapel. However, he appeared disgruntled and rejected the prospect of stepping out behind his brother-in-law, Sir Tim. Ms James described Andrew's actions as "desperate queue-jumping" that pushed the polite Sir Tim to the back.
She noted that Andrew wore a "gloating" smile initially but quickly became impatient, using gestures to avoid being last in line. Andrew allegedly pushed in front of Sir Tim, ignoring him in what Ms James interpreted as a lack of respect, while Sir Tim responded with a wry grin, possibly indicating polite indulgence.
This event was one of Andrew's last Easters with the Royal Family before the fallout from his Epstein ties intensified. Three years prior, he was eager to claim a dominant role in the Firm, often at the expense of others like Sir Tim.
