Prince Andrew and his former wife, the Duchess of York, have reportedly been banned from attending the Royal Family’s traditional Christmas lunch at Sandringham by King Charles.
The move, first reported in The Times, comes after the latest controversy to surround the strife-torn pair.
It was the revelation of the Duchess’ apology email to Jeffrey Epstein, after his conviction of sex offences and after she had publicly said she would not contact him again.
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King Charles has banned the Yorks from attending Christmas lunch at Sandringham with other senior royals (Picture: Oli Scarff/AFP)
A string of charities have cut ties with the duchess following the revelation of the 2011 email, including the Teenage Cancer Trust, the British Heart Foundation, the Children’s Literacy Charity and Prevent Breast Cancer.
The Times reports that the King has also ordered the Duke and Duchess to be “invisible” at future gatherings.
“It would be very much for the best and the family would not be disappointed, not least to avoid the King having to make any more difficult decisions,” a source told The Times.
There was some surprise in royal circles earlier this month when both Prince Andrew and the Duchess of York made a public entrance to the funeral of the Duchess of Kent, who was married to the late Queen’s cousin.
“The King is not of the mind to banish someone worshipping at church or attending family occasions like a funeral. But he would hope they would find a more discreet way of attending these events,” a source told The Times.
“In the Duke of York’s case, he seems to relish the prospect of not being low-key about it.”
Newly released documents have revealed that, in 2000, Andrew travelled on Epstein’s private jet from New Jersey to Palm Beach, Florida, and appeared to have received massages paid for with $200 cheques.