The Duke of York, Prince Andrew, and his former wife, Sarah Ferguson, are reportedly planning a final festive celebration at their Royal Lodge home this Christmas, despite a year mired in scandal and their impending eviction from the Windsor mansion.
A Festive Farewell at Royal Lodge
According to sources, the couple intend to host "all sorts of entertaining" this December, marking what is expected to be their last Christmas at the 30-room residence before they are required to leave. Royal biographer Andrew Lownie, author of a book on the House of York, suggests the event will be a "last hurrah," filled with longstanding friends who have remained loyal.
A source told the Daily Mail: "There is to be some sort of party for their last remaining friends over Christmas. I'm not sure they've labelled it a 'farewell' party, but it very much looks like a last hurrah." This comes just weeks after Andrew was stripped of his remaining royal patronages and military titles, and as both he and Fergie continue to grapple with the severe fallout from their associations with the convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein.
The Challenge of the Guest List
The question of who would attend such a gathering now looms large. Last year, Fergie's Christmas event included guests like pop star Ellie Goulding and Made in Chelsea's Mark Francis Vandelli. Her social circle has historically included major A-listers such as supermodel Kate Moss and music icon Sir Elton John.
However, the couple's reputational damage is profound. Andrew settled a civil sexual assault case out of court in 2022, and both have faced intense scrutiny over their ties to Epstein. This makes it challenging to imagine which image-conscious celebrities would currently associate themselves with the pair.
Friends Who Have Stood By Them
Despite the controversies, a few figures have publicly maintained their connections.
Lady Victoria Hervey, Andrew's longtime friend and former girlfriend, has been one of his most vocal defenders. She has publicly questioned the credibility of Epstein accuser Virginia Giuffre and, in a controversial move in April, reposted a picture of Giuffre from her hospital bed with the caption "Karma." Her spokesperson later called the post a mistake.
Charlie Butter, one of the late Queen's godsons and a friend of Andrew's since prep school, is another longstanding ally. He was also known to accompany Ghislaine Maxwell to London society events.
In Fergie's circle, friendships with Naomi Campbell and Kate Moss have been well-documented over nearly two decades, featuring joint holidays and charity events. Supermodel Naomi Campbell even walked the runway for Fergie's charity in 2015.
Other notable past guests include singer Ellie Goulding, who attended Princess Eugenie's wedding and has been seen at events with Sarah Ferguson as recently as September 2024, and actress Demi Moore, who was a guest at Eugenie's 2018 wedding.
The Final Countdown at Windsor
As Andrew and Sarah Ferguson fight to retain their home and any semblance of their former status, this Christmas party symbolises more than just seasonal cheer. It represents a poignant, and perhaps defiant, end to an era at Royal Lodge. With their social capital severely diminished and their future uncertain, the guest list for this "last hurrah" will be the clearest indicator yet of who remains in the diminished inner circle of the Duke and Duchess of York.
