The presence of Princesses Beatrice and Eugenie at the Royal Family's annual Christmas lunch this week has been interpreted by commentators as a deliberate move by King Charles III to shield them from the ongoing fallout surrounding their father, the disgraced Prince Andrew.
A Curated Guest List Sends a Clear Signal
The sisters arrived together at Buckingham Palace on Tuesday, with Princess Eugenie marking the festive occasion with a pair of candy cane earrings. Their attendance at the lunch, hosted by the King, stood in stark contrast to the absence of their father. Prince Andrew was photographed riding a horse alone in the pouring rain at Windsor Great Park, approximately 25 miles away, on the same day.
Royal analyst Charlie Proctor, editor of Royal Central, noted that the pre-Christmas lunch is not a casual family gathering but a carefully curated event. He wrote: 'This week's answer was clear. They are to be insulated.' He added that Andrew's exclusion is now 'total and unambiguous', while the inclusion of his daughters sends the opposite message: the monarchy will not permit guilt by association.
Contrasting Images of Support and Isolation
The joyful images of Beatrice and Eugenie were contrasted with what royal commentator Richard Fitzwilliams described as a 'portrait of humiliation both real and symbolic' of their father. The lunch was also attended by the Prince and Princess of Wales and their children, Prince George, Princess Charlotte, and Prince Louis, alongside other senior royals including the Duke of Kent and Princess Alexandra.
This public show of support for the York princesses follows their absence from the Princess of Wales's carol concert at Westminster Abbey earlier in December. While royal sources cited prior commitments, Mr Fitzwilliams suggested they did not want to be a 'distraction' at that event, held as the family braced for the release of court documents related to Jeffrey Epstein in the United States.
Building a Future Within the Monarchy's Perimeter
Despite not being working royals, both sisters have recently received significant royal appointments, indicating the King's desire to keep them within the fold. Beatrice was appointed a Counsellor of State and made deputy patron of the Outward Bound Trust in November, while Eugenie was made a mentor for the King's Foundation in May and a patron of Arts Work in October.
As their parents, Andrew and Sarah Ferguson, prepare to leave their home at Royal Lodge in Windsor, the King's actions appear designed to provide Beatrice and Eugenie with a stable, respected position separate from the scandal. Andrew was stripped of his last military title on Monday and will no longer use the style 'His Royal Highness'. He has consistently denied any wrongdoing related to his association with the late financier and convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein.
The King's festive gathering, therefore, served as more than a holiday meal; it was a powerful statement about who remains within the 'perimeter of royal acceptability' and how the institution intends to navigate the reputational damage linked to the Duke of York.
