The younger generation of royals took centre stage at a festive Buckingham Palace gathering on Tuesday, while a disgraced former prince was conspicuously absent from the celebrations. King Charles III hosted his traditional pre-Christmas family lunch, with Princes George and Louis and Princess Charlotte of Wales charming onlookers as they arrived.
A Contrast in Royal Appearances
Seven-year-old Prince Louis provided a moment of childish candour, appearing to pout as he sat in the back of a car heading to the central London event. He was accompanied by his beaming elder sister, ten-year-old Princess Charlotte, and their parents, the Prince and Princess of Wales. Their eldest brother, twelve-year-old Prince George, arrived separately, looking smart in a suit and tie.
In a starkly different scene, Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor was pictured riding his horse in the pouring rain around Windsor Great Park. The images of the 65-year-old, who was formally stripped of his royal titles and military roles, presented a lonely figure contrasted with the warm family gathering in the capital.
Family Gathers Amid Ongoing Turbulence
The King's lunch saw a wide array of relatives in attendance. Andrew's daughters, Princesses Eugenie and Beatrice, who had been absent from the Princess of Wales's carol concert earlier in December, were welcomed back into the fold. It is understood the King does not wish to punish the sisters for their father's actions. Eugenie marked the occasion with a pair of festive candy cane earrings.
Other guests included the Duke and Duchess of Edinburgh, Prince Edward and Sophie, with their daughter Lady Amelia Windsor. The Duke of Kent and Lady Sarah Chatto were also spotted arriving at the Palace for the meal, which traditionally precedes the Royal Family's departure for Sandringham.
Andrew's Fall from Grace Continues
The Duke of York's exclusion from the festivities follows a series of significant personal and professional setbacks. Just a day before the lunch, the Defence Council confirmed his demotion from the honorary rank of Vice-Admiral to Commander (Retired), stripping him of his last remaining military title.
This move, endorsed by Defence Secretary John Healey on the King's indication, aligns with the removal of his other styles and titles. Andrew, who settled a civil sexual assault case with Virginia Giuffre while denying wrongdoing, also faces being evicted from his home, Royal Lodge in Windsor. He is expected to move to a smaller property on the King's Sandringham estate.
His absence from the palace came just days after the Metropolitan Police stated it would take no further action over claims he asked a police protection officer to investigate his accuser. As the wider family celebrated, the visual divide between the core working royals and the former prince appeared more pronounced than ever.
