King Charles is preparing to welcome the Royal Family to Sandringham House once again this Christmas, continuing a tradition that has spanned over 160 years at the Norfolk estate.
The festive gathering is always a significant event, typically attended by extended family members, including Prince Andrew, his ex-wife Sarah Ferguson, and their daughters, Princess Beatrice and Princess Eugenie.
However, according to former BBC Royal correspondent Jennie Bond, Prince Andrew may have the “perfect excuse” to skip this year’s celebrations. Speaking to OK!, she noted that with both Eugenie and Beatrice now married and mothers, the house could feel overcrowded.
“As families expand, life gets more complicated. And the Yorks now have two sons-in-law and four grandchildren to consider. So it is beginning to become untenable to have the whole extended royal family under one roof at Sandringham…especially with Camilla’s family to consider as well,” she explained.
Jennie confirmed that Andrew will definitely receive an invite, as usual. She said: “However, it seems that Andrew remains keen on the traditional royal Christmas and, even after all the controversy over Royal Lodge, he and Sarah will almost certainly be invited to share the King and Queen’s celebrations. They don’t, however, usually stay in the main house but at Wood Farm nearby, where they can do their own family thing if they want.
“Charles is not a vindictive man…far from it…and whatever has gone on between the brothers, I think he will always extend an invitation for Andrew and his family to share big family occasions.”
Jennie also speculated that things would be easier if Andrew and Sarah do their own celebrations. “But Andrew’s own growing family will give him and Sarah the perfect reason to avoid Sandringham and surround themselves with their daughters and little one. Beatrice and Eugenie are very protective of both their parents”.