Princesses Eugenie and Beatrice made a notable appearance alongside the royal family at the traditional Christmas Day church service at Sandringham, a year marked by their father's continued absence from official duties.
A Christmas Walk at Sandringham
On a bright and sunny morning in East Anglia, King Charles III and Queen Camilla led the royal family on the short walk from Sandringham House to St Mary Magdalene church. The Princess of Wales and her children were among the congregation for the hour-long service, which began at 11am.
Princesses Eugenie and Beatrice were seen walking behind the King and Queen, accompanied by their husbands, Jack Brooksbank and Edoardo Mapelli Mozzi respectively. The Duke and Duchess of Edinburgh, the Princess Royal with her husband Vice Admiral Sir Timothy Laurence, and Zara and Mike Tindall also attended the service, which drew hundreds of well-wishers.
The Shadow of Prince Andrew's Absence
The festive gathering unfolded against the backdrop of a difficult year for the family of the King's brother, Prince Andrew. The former Duke of York, stripped of his royal titles by King Charles, was not present at Sandringham. His former wife, Sarah Ferguson, also did not attend, having last been at the service in 2023.
Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor is believed to have spent Christmas at his Royal Lodge home near Windsor Castle. He was forced to relinquish his royal titles over his association with the convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein, with new details about their ties continuing to emerge publicly. Furthermore, he is expected to soon vacate the Royal Lodge for the smaller Marsh Farm property on the Sandringham estate, which is currently under renovation.
A Turbulent Year for the Monarchy
The Christmas service brought to a close a period of significant challenge for the House of Windsor. King Charles himself recently shared the "good news" that he had scaled back his cancer treatment following a diagnosis in 2024, using his platform to highlight the importance of early medical intervention.
However, the ongoing fallout from the Epstein scandal and the related property disputes have cast a long shadow. The service at Sandringham, a symbol of continuity and tradition, presented a united front by the working members of the royal family, even as one of its most controversial figures remained out of sight.
