The Royal Family were in high spirits as they traveled to the House of Windsor’s grand Christmas gathering in London on Tuesday. King Charles hosts a lavish lunch each year for the extended Royal Family to mark the start of the festive season, followed by a gathering of senior royals and close relatives at the monarch’s expansive estate in Norfolk on Christmas Day.
This year, there was a noticeable absence from the holiday festivities: Andrew Mountbatten Windsor. The disgraced former prince was seemingly not included in the large royal celebration, while his family members were captured by photographers, looking cheerful and elegantly dressed for the occasion.
Sarah Ferguson, Andrew’s ex-wife, and the former Duke of York also did not participate in the Christmas celebrations the previous year. With the imminent full release of the Epstein files and Andrew stripped of his titles and royal styles by the King, it is no surprise that he did not receive an invitation. However, his daughters, Princess Eugenie and Princess Beatrice, were still part of the family gathering.
An expert observed a somber Andrew, who was seen horse riding in Windsor Great Park, possibly making his daughters feel a bit guilty for attending the party without him. The Mirror examined the distinct ways in which they spent the day.
Andrew appeared solemn and downcast during his horse ride in gloomy weather. Body language and communications expert Judi James remarked that he seemed determined to carry on despite the rain, giving off an air of dejection. In contrast, his daughters appeared cheerful and radiant as they headed to the royal Christmas lunch.
King Charles seems to differentiate between his nieces Eugenie and Beatrice and their controversial parents, as both sisters remain part of the family circle. Andrew and Sarah are expected to move out of their long-time residence at Royal Lodge, with Andrew relocating to a property on the Sandringham Estate and Sarah considering options such as staying at Beatrice’s Cotswolds home or at Eugenie’s mansion in Portugal.
Despite the controversy surrounding their parents, King Charles is likely to continue including Beatrice and Eugenie in royal events if they choose to attend. He publicly criticized Andrew for his association with Jeffrey Epstein and announced the revocation of his royal privileges, expressing support for abuse survivors.