Andrew Mountbatten Windsor was seen spending Christmas in solitude after his family, excluding his two daughters, observed the festive season without him. The erstwhile prince was witnessed departing from his Royal Lodge residence, which he is soon to vacate. Andrew was excluded from the customary Christmas gatherings held by the Royal Family at Sandringham due to the controversies surrounding his association with convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein.
His daughters, Princess Beatrice and Eugenie, opted to spend the holidays with the royals at Sandringham, distancing themselves from their disgraced parents. Andrew was captured alone in his vehicle as he left his 30-bedroom Royal Lodge estate. Earlier this year, King Charles stripped his brother of all royal titles and privileges.
Despite appearing despondent, Andrew managed to flash a cheerful thumbs-up to a staff member as he exited the property gates. Following the “peppercorn rent” controversy, the ex-prince is expected to relocate to a residence on the private Sandringham estate post-Christmas, where other royals were celebrating.
Residing at Royal Lodge with his ex-wife Sarah Ferguson, who was also absent from Sandringham, Andrew will soon be parting ways with the property. Fergie will be finding her own living arrangements separate from her former spouse. Andrew has faced heightened scrutiny after images of him surfaced in the released Epstein files, although being featured in these files does not imply any wrongdoing, a claim Andrew has consistently refuted.
Rumors circulated that Princess Beatrice might spend Christmas abroad with friends to avoid spending time with the royals or her father at Royal Lodge. The eldest daughter was seen strolling with her husband from Sandringham House to St Mary Magdalene’s Church. Meanwhile, other members of the royal family were also present at Sandringham, with well-wishers braving the cold to catch a glimpse of Charles and Camilla as they arrived for the Christmas Day service.