King Charles appears determined to distance himself from Prince Andrew and Sarah Ferguson. According to the British press, the monarch does not plan to include them in the Sandringham Christmas celebrations this year, a decision that echoes what happened in 2023.
The exclusion comes in a context where Andrew remains an uncomfortable figure for the Royal Household, with a history of controversies that the King would prefer to keep away from the Christmas spotlight. Now, the recent scandal of Sarah Ferguson’s leaked emails to her “supreme friend,” the late Jeffrey Epstein, adds to this, according to reports.
Although Andrew and Sarah live together in the Royal Lodge despite being divorced for years, they both remain in a delicate position within the family. A close source summed it up with irony: “You can’t sack someone from being your brother,” but you can reduce their visibility.
The idea, it seems, is for the Yorks to remain as discreet as possible to spare the monarch difficult decisions.
Sarah Ferguson’s circle says she is hurt by the situation and plans to talk to the rest of the family to clear up any misunderstandings.
Meanwhile, the difference in treatment is striking: they can attend funerals or religious events, but the doors to family intimacy seem closed.
Charles is primarily focused on safeguarding the institution’s image during a period of intense public scrutiny.
If confirmed, Andrew and Sarah will spend another Christmas at Royal Lodge, likely without the company of their daughters Beatrice and Eugenia, who maintain a closer bond with the rest of the family.
The clear message is that the king is unwilling to let personal scandals overshadow the Christmas spirit of royalty.