Why Prince Andrew Is Missing from the Royal Family's Christmas Walk This Year

Mar. 15, 2025

Prince Andrew at St. George’s Chapel at Windsor Castle for the Easter Mattins Service on March 31, 2024.Photo:JUSTIN TALLIS/AFP via Getty

JUSTIN TALLIS/AFP via Getty

Prince Andrewdidn’t join the royal family’s traditional Christmas celebrations at Sandringham amid another scandal.

On Dec. 25, the Duke of York, 64, and his ex-wifeSarah Fergusonskipped the royal family’s traditional Christmas gathering amid backlash around the Duke of York’s connection to an alleged Chinese “spy.” Their younger daughterPrincess Eugeniealso didn’t join the public-facing walk to church on Christmas, though their elder daughterPrincess Beatricedid.

It was alast-minute change in plansfor Beatrice, 36, who is pregnant with her second child and a decision made as her due date approaches. The princess stepped out with her husband,Edoardo Mapelli Mozziand stepsonChristopher Woolf, 8, for the festive walk to church at St. Mary Magdalene on the Sandringham estate, where they joinedKing Charles,Queen Camilla,Prince William,Kate Middletonand other members of the royal family.

Christopher Woolf, Edoardo Mapelli Mozzi and Princess Beatrice walk to church at Sandringham on Dec. 25, 2024.OLI SCARFF/AFP via Getty

OLI SCARFF/AFP via Getty

PEOPLE understands that Princess Beatrice had plans to spend the holiday with her in-laws in Italy, but doctors advised against travel at this point of her pregnancy.

In addition to skipping the Christmas gathering at the Norfolk estate and the traditional family walk to church at St. Mary Magdalene on the estate’s grounds the morning of Dec. 25, Andrewalso didn’t go to his brother King Charles’ pre-Christmas lunchat Buckingham Palace on Dec. 19 amid uproar around the alleged spy scandal.

Edoardo Mapelli Mozzi, Christopher Woolf and Princess Beatrice walk to church at Sandringham on Dec. 25, 2024.Aaron Chown/PA Images via Getty

Aaron Chown/PA Images via Getty

Earlier this month, Andrew found himself at the center of further controversy following his disastrous 2019 BBCNewsnightinterview surrounding his sexual assault allegations and association with convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein, which resulted in his step back as a working royal. The latest scandal involves the Duke of York’s close business links with a Chinese national alleged to be a spy, according to multiple reports.

The alleged spy, Yang Tengbo, was reportedly appointed as a “business adviser” to Prince Andrew and was promised access to the highest levels of the royal family “in an apparently serious breach of national security,” according toThe Times. The outlet added that British security services found the man was a member of the Chinese Communist Party and was working for its United Front Work Department, which gathers intelligence.

The BBC reported that the man received an invite to Prince Andrew’s 60th birthday party in 2020 — just months after hisNewsnightfiasco — and was told he could act on his behalf to seek investors in China.The Timesreported that the alleged spy was also invited to the royal estate at Windsor.

Prince Andrew and Sarah Ferguson at the Thanksgiving Service honoring the late King Constantine of Greece at St. George’s Chapel at Windsor Castle on Feb. 27, 2024.CHRIS JACKSON/POOL/AFP via Getty Images

CHRIS JACKSON/POOL/AFP via Getty Images

Amid the fallout, it emerged on Dec. 16 that the Duke and Duchess of York (who divorced in 1996 but continue to live at Royal Lodge in Windsor) would no longer attend the royal family Christmas at Sandringham. Last year, the ex-couple stayed at Wood Farm on the Sandringham estate, and were expected to do so again this year.

Prince Andrew and Ferguson, 65, are expected instead spend a quiet Christmas at Royal Lodge, and it’s thought that Princess Eugenie, 34, is marking the holiday with her in-laws. Princess Beatrice and Princess Eugenie aretypically fixtures at Sandringham each yearalongside their husbands, and Beatrice and Edobrought Christopher Woolf(who is affectionately nicknamed Wolfie) to the royal Christmas walk for the first time in 2022.

Royal biographer Ingrid Seward tells PEOPLE that Andrew will have spoken about the decision to forgo royal Christmas with his ex-wife and daughters.

“Despite [Ferguson’s] missteps in the past, she does know how things will play out socially. She would tell him it’s best to stay away,” Seward tells PEOPLE. “And Beatrice would have backed her up in that.”

Princess Beatrice of York and Princess Eugenie of York attend the officially party celebrating Vogue World: London 2023 at George Mayfair on Sept. 14, 2023 in London, England.David M. Benett/Dave Benett/Getty

David M. Benett/Dave Benett/Getty

Another source toldThe Mail on Sunday, “The palace has behaved the best it possibly can with a difficult relation. Every sanction that can be imposed has been, but you can’t divorce or sack your brother from being your brother. There will always be a bond of blood, and all families often have difficult relatives to deal with.”

Queen Camilla and King Charles lead the royal family’s walk to church at Sandringham on Dec. 25, 2024.Victoria Jones/Shutterstock

Victoria Jones/Shutterstock

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“Of course, it is understood that it looks bad for the entire family, but that is because of one individual,” the source continued.

source: people.com