Reports confirm that Princess Beatrice and Princess Eugenie will be absent from the royal family’s traditional Christmas gathering at Sandringham this year. This marks a departure from previous years, as the sisters have consistently attended the annual festivities. Their parents, Prince Andrew and Sarah Ferguson, will also be missing the event, likely spending the holiday at their shared residence, Royal Lodge in Windsor.
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Prince Andrew and Sarah Ferguson’s absence follows recent controversy surrounding the Duke of York’s alleged connections to a suspected Chinese spy. While they were present at Sandringham last year, participating in the Christmas Day walk to St. Mary Magdalene Church, this year they have opted to remain at Royal Lodge.
It’s understood that both Princess Beatrice and Princess Eugenie received invitations to spend Christmas with their respective in-laws well in advance. Beatrice, married to Edoardo Mapelli Mozzi since 2020, is expecting their second child in early 2025. They also share a daughter, Sienna Elizabeth, and Edoardo’s son, Christopher Woolf, from a previous relationship. Eugenie, married to Jack Brooksbank since 2018, has two sons, August and Ernest.
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The York sisters have a long-standing tradition of spending Christmas at Sandringham, having attended nearly every year since childhood. The only exception in the past decade was in 2020 due to the COVID-19 pandemic. This year marks the first time both sisters will celebrate Christmas with their married families.
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Reports suggest that Sarah Ferguson encouraged Prince Andrew to forgo Christmas at Sandringham amidst the recent controversy, thereby sacrificing her own invitation. This decision was reportedly made easier by their daughters’ plans to spend the holiday with their in-laws.
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In a recent interview, Sarah Ferguson expressed unwavering affection for Prince Andrew, stating she would marry him again “100 percent.” The couple married in 1986 and divorced a decade later. Ferguson described him as a “great man with a great heart,” reflecting on their wedding day as the “best day of her life.” She acknowledged the loss of anonymity that came with marrying into the royal family but emphasized that their love endures.
