Princess Beatrice is set to spend the festive season overseas, deliberately avoiding Christmas celebrations with her disgraced father, Prince Andrew, and her mother, Sarah Ferguson, Duchess of York.
A Festive Dilemma for the Princess
The 37-year-old princess has reportedly declined invitations to two key royal events. She was invited to what is expected to be her parents' final Christmas at Royal Lodge in Windsor before they are required to leave the property. She also turned down an invitation to join King Charles III and other senior royals at the Sandringham estate in Norfolk.
According to sources, Beatrice made the decision to "avoid embarrassment" for the family, feeling "tormented" by the conflict between her loyalty to her parents and the rest of the Royal Family. Instead, she will embark on a skiing holiday abroad with her husband, Edoardo Mapelli Mozzi, and a group of friends.
Deepening Scandal for Prince Andrew
The princess's decision comes as her father, the Duke of York, faces renewed scrutiny. This follows the release of new images by the US Department of Justice as part of the Jeffrey Epstein files. One photograph shows Andrew, then a working royal, lying across the laps of five women in the saloon room at Sandringham, with convicted sex trafficker Ghislaine Maxwell visible in the background.
This image has raised serious questions about the disgraced duke's association with Epstein and Maxwell, particularly as it places them within one of the Royal Family's most private and treasured spaces. The saloon room is where the monarch's Christmas broadcast is traditionally watched by the family.
Andrew, 65, was stripped of his military affiliations and royal patronages in 2022 and no longer uses his HRH style. The Mail on Sunday previously published a leaked email proving he had lied about having no contact with Epstein after 2010.
Family Strains and Festive Absences
Beatrice's younger sister, Princess Eugenie, 35, is also said to be facing a similar dilemma about where to spend Christmas and may also choose to avoid her parents. Both sisters attended the Royal Family's early Christmas party at Buckingham Palace on Tuesday without Andrew or Sarah Ferguson present.
In a visible sign of the upheaval, Christmas decorations have not been erected outside Royal Lodge this year, breaking a two-decade tradition since Andrew moved into the residence. The property lacked the customary wreaths and Christmas tree.
The released Epstein photograph, lacking context but deeply damaging, was taken in the Sandringham saloon—a room of great significance where the King and his family gather to relax, watch television, and enjoy afternoon tea during the festive period. Buckingham Palace has been contacted for comment on the image.
