As Andrew Mountbatten Windsor breathes a sigh of relief after being released from police investigations, his kids are now being drawn into the awkward family conflict
Princesses Beatrice and Eugenie are in a tough spot this Christmas. According to sources, the pair are facing a huge dilemma about where to spend Christmas, in the wake of their father’s fall from grace.
King Charles has extended an invitation to both Beatrice and Eugenie to spend Christmas at Sandringham this year. However, their parents – Andrew Mountbatten Windsor and Sarah Ferguson – have been completely snubbed.
Now, the pair are said to be caught between a rock and a hard place as they are torn on whether to spend the festive season. It comes as the disgraced prince prepares to leave the Royal Lodge in the coming weeks to move onto one of the small dwellings at Sandringham.
Both Beatrice and Eugenie are loyal to King Charles and are committed to their duties to serving the country, according to the Sun. But at the same time, they are also incredibly close with Andrew and Fergie and do not want to leave them exiled.
But according to royal insiders, the split is now becoming a logistical nightmare for the daughters. Speaking to the Mail on Sunday, one source said that the pair will end up darting back and both to make sure both sides are catered for.
“Unless she makes a decision to pick one side and one side only, she will spend a lot of time in the car,” the insider shot. “Overall it falls to the princesses to soothe family divisions; they are struggling with Christmas.”
The sisters are reported to be involved in even more royal drama as they try to balance their family relationship and their royal duties. And with the King trying to convey a show of unity among his own loved ones in the wake of the scandal, things are only set to get worse for the pair.
All senior royals are expected to attend the church service on Christmas morning at the Church of St Mary Magdalene close to the Sandringham estate. But sources say Andrew has been told not to join in the festivities over his role in the Epstein scandal.
Insiders have also said that within the children, there is a disagreement over what to do. Beatrice is reported to have more loyalty to the King and Queen and will show up in Sandringham in one of the biggest royal engagements of the year.
Beatrice has already seen the split in family relations first hand as earlier this week her daughter Athena was baptised. Andrew and Fergie were present, but many senior royals expected to be there were instead completely absent, including the King and Queen.
But away from the cameras, she also is torn as she wants to spend her final Christmas at the Royal Lodge on the Windsor estate with her parents before they are booted out in the new year. Princess Eugenie, however, is believed to be less stressed by the new arrangements.
Currently living away from the drama in a lavish Portuguese home together with Jack Brooksbank and her own family to look after, Eugenie is not getting involved in the family chaos this year. Instead, she is expected to stay away from the potential fallout — a move which some sources say is the best option for her.
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