The Duke of York, Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor, reportedly compelled his daughters, Princesses Beatrice and Eugenie, to attend the Royal Family's Christmas gathering at Sandringham with instructions to report back on the event's details, according to a prominent royal commentator.
Daughters 'Had No Choice' But To Attend
While Andrew spent a solitary Christmas at his home, Royal Lodge, his two daughters joined other members of The Firm at the Norfolk estate for the traditional festivities in 2025. Photographs captured the sisters walking to the Christmas Day service at St Mary Magdalene church with the wider family.
Royal author Ingrid Seward has claimed the princesses were acting under direct orders from their father. "I don't think Beatrice and Eugenie had a choice. Andrew said to them 'you have to go'," Seward stated during an appearance on the Sun's Royal Exclusive show. She suggested Andrew was keen to learn "what's going on and what people are saying about him" at the gathering, from which he is now permanently excluded.
Andrew's 'Only Passport' Into The Royal Fold
Seward described the sisters as Andrew's "only passport into the Royal Family now," asserting she was sure he had persuaded them to attend with the specific aim of gathering intelligence. This view was supported by former Sun royal correspondent Charles Rae, who speculated that Andrew would have been quick to debrief his daughters upon their return.
"One of the first things when they got back would be Andrew on the phone asking 'who said what?'" Rae commented, painting a picture of a father using his children to maintain a connection to a world that has formally ostracised him.
A Permanent Exile From Royal Life
Andrew's banishment from the heart of the monarchy has been solidified in recent years. Following the stripping of his remaining military titles and patronages, King Charles III did not extend an invitation to Sandringham for Christmas. He and his ex-wife, Sarah Ferguson, have not attended the gathering for some time, with their last appearances predating the full fallout from his association with the late convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein.
Royal biographer Andrew Lownie confirmed the duke's changed status, telling The Mirror late last year: "He's definitely out... he's a commoner now." Lownie contrasted Andrew's fate with that of Sarah Ferguson, suggesting the Duchess of York retains a potential for reputational recovery due to a "gift for reinventing herself," whereas he concluded, "I think he's toast."
With the couple reportedly due to move to a new property within the Sandringham estate, their physical proximity to the royal family will remain, but their social and official exclusion appears to be complete and enduring.
