Princess Eugenie and Jack Brooksbank arrive for palace christening of Beatrice’s daughter Athena – with Andrew and Fergie anticipated to return out of exile to attend ceremony
Princess Eugenie and has arrived at Clarence house for the christening of her sisters baby Athena.
Princess Beatrice, 37, and her property developer husband Edo Mapelli Mozzi, 42, will bring close family and friends to the Chapel Royal at St James’s Palace where their second daughter Athena – born several weeks prematurely in January – will be baptised.
One source said: ‘It’s going to be a royal occasion but everyone is dreading the thought of seeing Andrew there.’
Beatrice is said to have remained close to her mother Sarah during the turbulence of the Epstein saga, but relations with her father are understood to be more strained.
An insider said: ‘Beatrice has, of course invited her father. But things are not warm between them. However, she’s worried about him. He’s going through a low ebb with his mental health and she recognises that he dotes on his grandchildren and it would be cruel to deprive him of the chance to attend the christening.
‘Some careful conversations and diplomacy with King Charles will have taken place to get to this stage.’
Princess Eugenie has arrived at Clarence house for the christening of Beatrice baby Athena
Car believed to be carrying Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor leaves Royal Lodge
Princess Beatrice, 37, and her property developer husband Edo Mapelli Mozzi, 42, will bring close family and friends to the Chapel Royal at St James’s Palace where their second daughter Athena will be baptised
Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor and Sarah Ferguson will attend the royal event, marking the first since their dramatic exile from public life.
The former Duke and Duchess of York will step inside a royal palace for the first time since they were stripped of their titles after fresh revelations about their relationships with paedophile Jeffrey Epstein.
Andrew was stripped of all his royal titles in October after a leaked email published by the MoS proved he lied in his interview with BBC’s Newsnight when he claimed he ‘never had any contact’ with paedophile Jeffrey Epstein after they were pictured together in New York in December 2010.
It is thought Athena would have been christened earlier this year, had it not been for the painful scandal engulfing her grandparents. Her sister Sienna, now four, was baptised in 2022 within six months of her birth.
Beatrice’s sister Eugenie and her husband Jack Brooksbank will also attend what is expected to be a private ceremony. Also attending will be European royals, including Princess Nina of Greece and Denmark, 38, who is a godmother.
It is understood the King was invited but is not expected to attend – although he has no official engagements listed that day.
The former Duke and Duchess of York (pictured) will step inside a royal palace for the first time since they were stripped of their titles when they attend their granddaughter’s christening
Princess Anne will be away visiting The Royal Military Academy Sandhurst Sovereign’s Parade at Camberley, in Berkshire.
Princes George and Louis were also christened in the Chapel Royal, but the Waleses are not expected to be there.
Andrew will not appear in any official photographs from the christening and will avoid cameras outside the chapel.
A source said: ‘Beatrice is determined to keep the focus entirely on her daughter, but there is no escaping the moment’s significance as this will be the former Duke and Duchess of York’s first appearance at a Royal Family event and possibly the last time he steps foot in St James’s Chapel.’
