Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor and Sarah Ferguson will most likely not attend the Royal Family’s Christmas Day church service at Sandringham today, as the King and senior royals gather in Norfolk for one of the most traditional fixtures in the royal calendar.
The former couple are set to be absent from the public-facing service at St Mary Magdalene Church, where members of the Royal Family walk from Sandringham House to attend the morning service before greeting well-wishers outside.
Their continued absence comes even though Andrew is moving to accommodation on the Sandringham estate in the new year.
Renewed scrutiny and a public outcry over his links to Jeffrey Epstein led to intense pressure for Andrew to relinquish his prominent royal residences.
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Following the scandal, King Charles initiated the process to remove Andrew's titles (making him Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor) and directed him to leave Royal Lodge.
The move to Sandringham, a private estate, signifies a significant step down in status and means Andrew is now housed at the King's expense, rather than using public funds for his larger Windsor home
While the Sandringham Christmas Day walk can include a broad mix of relatives beyond the core working royals, it remains a high-profile public moment, and attendance is closely watched for signals of who is being publicly included by the monarch.
The King and Queen will attend this morning alongside Prince William and Princess Kate, who are spending Christmas at Sandringham with their children.
Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor and Sarah Ferguson pictured at Sandringham in 2023
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Other senior members of the family will be present as the royals continue the long-standing tradition in Norfolk, including the Duke and Duchess of Edinburgh, Princess Anne, and Timothy Laurence.
Andrew attended the Sandringham Christmas Day service as recently as 2023, walking to church alongside members of the Royal Family in a rare public appearance following his withdrawal from official duties.
Sarah Ferguson also joined the family that year, marking her first appearance at the Sandringham church walk in more than 30 years, in what was widely described as a significant return.
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Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor and Sarah Ferguson walking behind Princess Diana at Sandringham in 1991
|GETTY
Both were absent from Sandringham in 2024, after Andrew recused himself from the public-facing gathering amid scrutiny over his links to an alleged Chinese spy.
The decision was reportedly made to avoid further distraction during one of the monarchy’s most high-profile annual appearances, with the couple instead spending Christmas privately.
The service at St Mary Magdalene Church remains one of the most symbolic moments of the festive season for the monarchy.
Fergie with Diana at the Christmas Day service at St Mary Magdalene Church on the Sandringham estate in 1990
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After attending church, the family traditionally returns to Sandringham House for Christmas lunch before watching the King’s Christmas broadcast later in the afternoon.
For Andrew and Fergie, missing the service will reinforce their continued separation from the public life of the monarchy.
As crowds gather in Norfolk this morning, the focus will remain firmly on those walking to church, with the absence of certain figures continuing to speak volumes about the evolving shape of the modern Royal Family.