Princesses Eugenie and Beatrice made a notable appearance alongside senior royals at the traditional Christmas Day church service in Sandringham, a year marked by their father's deepening controversies.
A Festive Walk Amidst Family Strain
The royal family's Christmas morning procession to St Mary Magdalene church on the Sandringham estate presented a united front. King Charles III and Queen Camilla led the way on the bright, sunny morning in Norfolk, with hundreds of well-wishers gathered to watch.
Princesses Eugenie and Beatrice were seen walking close behind the monarch, accompanied by their respective husbands, Jack Brooksbank and Edoardo Mapelli Mozzi. The Prince and Princess of Wales attended with their children, and the Duke and Duchess of Edinburgh were also present.
Significantly absent was the princesses' father, Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor, the former Duke of York. His former wife, Sarah Ferguson, who last attended the Sandringham service in 2023, was also not present.
Andrew's Absence and Mounting Scandals
The festive gathering brought a difficult year for the House of Windsor into sharp focus. Prince Andrew is believed to have spent Christmas at his Royal Lodge home near Windsor Castle.
He was stripped of his royal titles by his brother, King Charles, earlier in the year due to the ongoing fallout from his association with the convicted child sex offender Jeffrey Epstein. New details about their ties have continued to emerge publicly.
Furthermore, Andrew faces losing his Royal Lodge residence amid criticism over the peppercorn rent he paid for the property. He is expected to soon vacate it for the smaller Marsh Farm property on the Sandringham estate, which is currently undergoing renovation.
A Turbulent Year for the Monarchy
The 2024 Christmas service concluded a period of significant turbulence for the royal family. King Charles himself recently shared "good news" about scaling back his cancer treatment following a diagnosis announced earlier in the year. He used his platform to emphasise the life-saving importance of early diagnosis and treatment.
The presence of Eugenie and Beatrice, supporting their uncle the King, highlighted a family navigating both personal health challenges and very public scandals. Their participation in the main royal event, while their father remains in exile from official duties, underscored the complex dynamics within the family as it seeks stability.
The hour-long service at St Mary Magdalene church, which began at 11am, offered a moment of tradition and continuity, contrasting with the upheaval that has defined much of the year for the Windsors.
