Andrew is unlikely to join the Royal Family at Sandringham for the festive celebrationsJennifer Newton Deputy Royal Editor and Ambarish Awale Trainee Trends, Showbiz and Lifestyle Writer
17:30, 23 Dec 2025Updated 17:31, 23 Dec 2025
Prince Andrew is unlikely to join the Royal Family at Sandringham for the festive period.(Image: Max Mumby/Indigo/Getty Images)
King Charles is preparing to welcome his family for the annual Royal Christmas celebrations, one of the most enchanting times of the year for the Firm. However, his disgraced younger brother Andrew will be facing a starkly different festive season, ostracised from his family.
The past year has been tumultuous for the former Duke of York, who has been stripped of his titles and ordered to relinquish his plush Royal Lodge mansion after years of living there, only to relocate to the Sandringham estate. In late October, the King formally deprived his scandal-ridden brother Andrew of his HRH style, prince title, and removed his dukedom from the Roll of the Peerage due to his “serious lapses” in judgement.
This action followed the release of a posthumous memoir by Andrew’s accuser, Virginia Giuffre, and the US government’s disclosure of documents from Epstein’s estate.
It was revealed that Andrew had emailed Epstein in 2011 stating “we’re in this together”, three months after he professed to have severed all ties with the convicted sex offender. Andrew denies any wrongdoing.
While the Royal Family are set to journey to Sandringham for the holiday festivities in the upcoming days, it is highly unlikely that Andrew will be joining them. According to Royal expert Jennie Bond, this is hardly surprising.
The former BBC Royal correspondent told the Mirror: “I think it’s obvious that Andrew’s relationship with the rest of the Royal Family is, to say the least, extremely strained.
Andrew has had a difficult year, with the King removing his titles and forcing him to leave Royal Lodge and move to the Sandringham estate.(Image: Getty Images)
“You only have to look at the pictures of him trying to cosy up to William at the Duchess of Kent’s funeral to understand just how awkward things are. William virtually blanked him. I think the rest of the Royal Family will be mightily relieved that he won’t be there.”
This isn’t the first occasion he’s found himself persona non grata: 12 months ago, he was requested to remain absent due to his connections with an alleged Chinese spy.
Ms Bond said: “It is, though, the most obvious and public sign that he is ostracised and an embarrassment to the family. And that must feel pretty unpleasant. It looks set to be rather a miserable time for the disgraced Mountbatten-Windsor.”
Festive spirit appears notably absent from the Windsor residence, with reports suggesting that for the first time in two decades, the King’s disgraced sibling hasn’t even mustered the enthusiasm to adorn his home with seasonal decorations.
Meanwhile, in the weeks ahead, Andrew appears destined to depart Royal Lodge permanently after being ordered to relinquish the lease. Work has reportedly commenced on refurbishing an old farmhouse on the Sandringham estate to accommodate Andrew’s relocation.
The home, known as Marsh Farm, sits approximately seven miles from the principal Sandringham House, and it’s understood the no-fly zone above Sandringham has been expanded to encompass the property. However, his ex-wife Sarah Ferguson, with whom he has shared the Windsor estate for numerous years, will not be joining him.
Sarah and Andrew are off the guestlist at Sandringham after a drama-filled year(Image: POOL/AFP via Getty Images)
Fergie is understood to be seeking alternative living arrangements – and Jennie suggests the Christmas period could expose their family rifts, particularly as their eldest daughter Princess Beatrice has apparently chosen to celebrate the holidays with friends overseas.
She continued: “Royal Lodge is said to be in quite a state, and many of his possessions have already been removed. The status of his relationship with his ex-wife, Sarah, is also up for debate.
“They once seemed almost inseparable, even though they were divorced. But it looks as if the strain of the Epstein scandal may have caused them to rethink their future together.
“Christmas has a habit of heightening emotions and exacerbating family divisions – even though it’s meant to be a season of goodwill. One thing is for sure: this is the last time Andrew will spend Christmas at Royal Lodge, if that’s where he chooses to stay.
“It has been his family home for more than 20 years and I’m sure he has many happy memories of family celebrations there. And that is bound to make him feel rather sad – and probably resentful.”
As Andrew prepares to start 2026 in a fresh residence with a new chapter in Norfolk, he’ll undoubtedly be wishing for a year free from controversy.
However, Jennie highlighted: “There are still many more Epstein documents and emails to be released, but I suspect that the most damaging revelations about Andrew’s friendship with him are already in the public arena.
“But the threat of more scandal around the corner will remain for some time – not only about Epstein, but about Andrew’s financial dealings and arrangements. It is not a story that investigative journalists are ready to let rest.”