While the wider Royal Family gathers at Sandringham Estate in Norfolk for their traditional Christmas celebrations, two notable figures will be conspicuously absent. The King's brother, Prince Andrew, and his ex-wife, Sarah Ferguson, have not received an invitation to join the festivities, a direct consequence of their associations with the disgraced financier Jeffrey Epstein and his associate Ghislaine Maxwell.
A Festive Season Overshadowed by Scandal
The decision to exclude the couple comes in the wake of intense scrutiny following the latest release of documents related to the Epstein case in the United States. This steady flow of evidence, including hundreds of photographs from Epstein's properties, has cast a long shadow over the Duke of York. One particularly damaging image, taken at Sandringham itself, shows Andrew reclining across the laps of five women while Ghislaine Maxwell stands in the background.
This marks the first time in two decades, since Andrew moved into Royal Lodge, that the residence has not been adorned with external Christmas decorations. The customary wreaths and tree are notably absent, a silent testament to the strained circumstances. Both Andrew and Sarah Ferguson continue to deny any wrongdoing, though the context of many released documents remains unclear.
Daughter Beatrice Chooses a Path of Distance
Caught in the middle of the familial rift is the couple's elder daughter, Princess Beatrice. The 37-year-old princess was reportedly extended an invitation by King Charles to spend Christmas at Sandringham but has chosen to decline. Friends state she is 'torn between loyalty to the King and her parents' and wished to 'avoid embarrassment' for all parties.
Instead, Princess Beatrice is distancing herself by spending the festive season overseas on a skiing holiday. She is accompanied by her husband, Edoardo Mapelli Mozzi, their children, and a group of friends. This plan is also seen as a way to stay clear of her mother, Sarah Ferguson, during this turbulent period. It was claimed Beatrice had been invited to her parents' final Christmas at Royal Lodge before their anticipated departure in 2026, but the current climate made attendance untenable.
Further Fallout and Family Divisions
The scandal has caused significant embarrassment for Prince Andrew, who was stripped of his military affiliations and royal patronages in 2022 and no longer uses his HRH style. The release of a leaked email also contradicted his previous public statements about his contact with Epstein. Furthermore, a gushing email from Sarah Ferguson to Epstein, sent shortly after she publicly disowned him, describing him as a 'steadfast, generous and supreme friend', has added to the controversy.
Princess Eugenie, Andrew and Fergie's younger daughter, faced a similar dilemma. While her Christmas plans are not officially confirmed, she is widely expected to be at Sandringham with the rest of the Royal Family. Both sisters attended the Royal Family's early Christmas party at Buckingham Palace without their parents, highlighting the complex divisions within the family. As the rest of the royals celebrate at Sandringham, the absence of the Duke of York and the Duchess of York underscores a Christmas defined more by scandal than seasonal goodwill.
