Disgraced royal Prince Andrew reportedly instructed his daughters, Princesses Beatrice and Eugenie, to attend the King's Christmas celebrations at Sandringham so they could act as his 'eyes and ears', a leading royal author has claimed.
A Solitary Christmas for the Duke
The Duke of York, 65, spent Christmas Day alone at Royal Lodge in Windsor, having been excluded from the traditional family gathering. This exile follows the stripping of his military titles and royal patronages by King Charles III, a direct consequence of Andrew's association with the convicted paedophile Jeffrey Epstein.
His ex-wife, Sarah, Duchess of York, was also absent from the Sandringham festivities. In stark contrast, their daughters were photographed beaming on the steps of St Mary Magdalene Church alongside the King and Queen Camilla on December 25th.
Daughters Deployed as 'Passport' to the Family
Royal biographer Ingrid Seward asserts that Andrew pushed Beatrice and Eugenie to attend, overriding other plans. Princess Beatrice had initially intended to go skiing but changed her mind. Seward told The Sun: "I don't think Beatrice and Eugenie had a choice. Andrew said to them 'you have to go'. He wants to know what's going on and what people are saying about him. They are Andrew's only passport into the Royal Family now."
The sisters attended with their husbands, Edoardo Mapelli Mozzi and Jack Brooksbank, following the King and Queen to the church service alongside the Prince and Princess of Wales and other senior royals.
King's Fondness for Nieces Amid Brother's Fall
Despite the firm stance against his brother's presence, King Charles has made it clear his nieces should not be punished for their father's actions. A source emphasised: "His Majesty is very fond of them." Beatrice and Eugenie retain their status as 'blood princesses' and their York titles.
Andrew's future residence remains a point of contention. He is expected to soon vacate the 30-room Royal Lodge and downsize to the smaller Marsh Farm property on the Sandringham estate, which is currently undergoing renovation.
Further scrutiny has emerged over Andrew's tenure at Royal Lodge. The Mail revealed that the Crown Estate failed to carry out a single property inspection during the 22 years he lived there rent-free, despite a lease agreement requiring upkeep. Andrew paid a substantial £8 million upfront to refurbish the dilapidated property in 2003.
The Duke's troubles stem from his friendship with Epstein. He has consistently denied allegations made by Virginia Giuffre, who accused him of sexual assault when she was a teenager. Andrew settled her civil case out of court in 2022 for a reported sum. Ms Giuffre died by suicide in Western Australia in April 2023, aged 41.
