Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor and Sarah Ferguson gave their full backing to Princess Beatrice and Princess Eugenie's decision to celebrate Christmas with the Royal Family at Sandringham, sources have claimed.
The insider emphasised that Fergie has consistently maintained her devotion to the institution, regardless of her personal circumstances.
"They live and die by the monarchy, so this didn't surprise me at all. And Andrew and Sarah would have 1,000 per cent supported it," a family friend claimed.
"Sarah has always said her greatest gift to the monarchy was her girls. She's going to still hold her allegiance to the Crown," they added.
Andrew and Sarah Ferguson ‘fully backed’ Eugenie and Beatrice’s Christmas move
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Royal biographer Robert Jobson believes the princesses acted appropriately by honouring the King's festive invitation, demonstrating their allegiance during a turbulent period.
"They did the right thing – showing loyalty to King Charles and to the Crown. It's easy to say this is a snub, but they would say, 'I'm a royal princess, I'm in line to the throne, I have been invited to attend the King's Christmas celebrations and you don't turn down the King's invitation,'" Mr Jobson also told People Magazine.
The author of Windsor Legacy, published on January 6, noted that such invitations carry particular weight within royal protocol.
"If you have an invitation, you go. It's not an invitation – it's a command, really," he said.
Royal fans showed their support for Princesses Beatrice and Eugenie after they were seen during Christmas celebrations | GETTYPrincess Beatrice, 37, and Princess Eugenie, 35, attended the Christmas morning church service at Sandringham alongside King Charles, Queen Camilla, Prince William and Princess Kate.
Their presence at the monarchy's most prominent festive tradition placed them visibly in step with senior royals, whilst their parents marked the occasion privately at Royal Lodge in Windsor, some 140 miles distant.
Andrew, 65, and Sarah, 66, were excluded from the gathering following renewed scrutiny of the former's connections to convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein.
The sisters arrived with their respective husbands, presenting a united front that highlighted the delicate position they now occupy.
Andrew and Sarah Ferguson walked side-by-side at Sandringham in 2023
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Sarah Ferguson and Andrew divorced in 1996 but maintain a good friendship
| GettyThe York sisters face an ongoing struggle to maintain their public standing with the Crown whilst navigating private family strain.
Since the scandal surrounding their father emerged in October, both princesses have adopted notably subdued public profiles.
"They've been very low-key lately and not at many of the usual social events," a source observed. "They're really just keeping to close, family-only celebrations."
Nevertheless, they attended King Charles's Christmas luncheon at Buckingham Palace on December 16, arriving together and appearing in good spirits despite their father's exclusion from that gathering too.
Mr Jobson noted that their parents' situation continues to create unwanted complications. "Unfortunately, their father and mother bring drama to their lives," he said.