Despite being effectively banished from the royal family, ex-Prince Andrew might have scored an invitation to a holiday gathering. According to RadarOnline, he might be invited to a Christmas lunch at King Charles and Queen Camilla’s Sandringham estate.
Many are said to be “deeply uncomfortable” with this idea, including Prince William and Kate Middleton. A palace insider told the outlet, “The idea of Andrew sitting around the Christmas table as though nothing has happened is going to be incredibly difficult for some members of the family.”
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“There are still very strong feelings about everything that has happened,” they said, adding that inviting Andrew “would be an extraordinary decision,” especially after his connection to the late convicted predator Jeffrey Epstein resurfaced. “The family has spent months trying to draw a line under his Epstein scandal, and bringing him back into the middle of Christmas celebrations could undo a lot of that work.”
As for William, he’s the future king and is “particularly conscious of the damage the Andrew scandal has done to the monarchy.” So, it’s no surprise he’s not on board with his disgraced uncle being around the royal fold.
“He believes the institution has to look forward, and there is little appetite for anything that could drag the family backwards,” the source noted.
When it comes to Kate, she wants one thing: for “Christmas to be about the children and the wider family. The last thing anyone needs is another deeply uncomfortable gathering dominated by Andrew’s presence.”
Charles is said to believe he’s “in an impossible position.” Andrew is his younger brother, and he wants to spend time with his family around the holidays. But then again, Charles is the king, and “every decision he makes has consequences for the reputation of the monarchy.”
“Yet there is a feeling that the King cannot afford to appear to be rewarding Andrew with a place at the family table after everything that has happened,” the palace source explained. “The family desperately wants a peaceful Christmas, but an invitation for Andrew could turn it into another public relations headache. And nobody wants the headlines that would follow.”
Related: Harry & Meghan Send Charles Clear Message After Report They Weren’t Invited to What Could Be the King’s ‘Last Christmas’
Reports of Andrew’s alleged invitation to the royal Christmas celebrations come after other sources revealed Prince Harry and Meghan Markle will be spending the holidays in the UK. According to Hello!, they currently have no plans to see Charles, Camilla, and the rest of the family. Instead, the Sussexes will reportedly be hosting Meghan’s mom, Doria Ragland.
A friend of the couple backed this claim, previously telling The Sunday Times that Harry and Meghan “will do whatever Doria wants to do.”
“They would love her to come over to the UK and spend it with them here, but they will be wherever she wants to be,” they continued. “They won’t be having Christmas with the royal family. How could that even work? They know it would be too awkward and too difficult. They also know they’re not going to be invited, and they’re not waiting for an invitation.”
However, RadarOnline did report that Meghan and Harry are “potentially in the mix for an invite.” Their relationship with Charles has drastically improved, and the king might want to see them and their two young kids on Christmas.
In 2025, a separate source told Us Weekly that Charles isn’t getting any younger, and with his ongoing cancer battle, he wants the holidays to be extra special “in case it’s his last.” So, if the three do get invited, it may be due to Charles’ declining health.
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