Sarah Ferguson and her former spouse, Andrew Mountbatten Windsor, have found themselves excluded from the royal Christmas festivities this winter. Following their departure from the Royal Lodge, the couple is expected to spend a quiet day away from the public eye.
In a turn of events at the end of 2023, Sarah was welcomed back to the Sandringham celebrations after nearly three decades. She interacted warmly with the public on her way to the Church of St Mary Magdalene, breaking royal tradition by engaging in live-tweeting during Christmas lunch.
Royal commentator Ephraim Hardcastle disclosed that Sarah expressed her joy on social media, emphasizing her gratitude for being back in the royal circle. This marked a significant shift from her long exclusion stemming from the 1992 scandal that led to her being barred from royal events by Prince Philip.
However, the following year saw a different scenario unfold. Instead of joining the royal family in Norfolk for Christmas in 2024, Sarah and Andrew celebrated alone at the Royal Lodge. Andrew, who was under pressure due to a scandal involving alleged connections to a Chinese spy, was determined to attend the pre-Christmas lunch at Buckingham Palace, but Sarah persuaded him to stay away to avoid further embarrassment.
Reports indicate that Sarah is contemplating alternative Christmas plans with friends, potentially even considering spending the holiday season abroad, leaving Andrew at Royal Lodge. While the royal family intends to distance themselves from Andrew, there are discussions about ensuring he is not left entirely alone, with the possibility of his brother Prince Edward or sister Princess Anne stepping in.
The exclusion of Andrew from this year’s royal celebrations further underscores his fall from grace, as he will miss out on the family’s traditional pre-Christmas lunch at Buckingham Palace. Despite the challenges surrounding Andrew’s presence during the holiday season, efforts are being made to prevent him from being isolated.