Princess Beatrice and Princess Eugenie Make Rare Decision to Skip Christmas Celebrations at Sandringham — Here’s Why

Mar. 15, 2025

Princess Eugenie and Princess Beatrice during Trooping The Colour, the Queen’s annual birthday parade, on June 8, 2019 in London, England.Photo: Mark Cuthbert/UK Press via Getty

Princess BeatriceandPrincess Eugeniewill miss the royal family’s traditional Christmas celebrations at Sandringham this year.

Andrew and Fergie, 65, were initially expected to stay at Wood Farm on the Sandringham estate, as they did last year, but stepped back from attending amid the uproar. Ferguson’s attendance in 2023 marked her first time publicly seen at Sandringham in 30 years, since her separation from Prince Andrew in 1992, according toTatler.

PEOPLE understands Beatrice and Eugenie each had invitations to spend Christmas with their respective in-laws, extended some time ago, and that both women decided to do so. Beatrice has been married to Edoardo Mapelli Mozzi since 2020 and iscurrently pregnant with her second childwith him, due in early 2025; they also share daughter Sienna Elizabeth, 3, and Christopher Woolf (known affectionately as Wolfie), 8, Edo’s son from a previous relationship. Eugenie marriedJack Brooksbankin 2018 and they share sons August, 3, and Ernest, 1.

The York sisters have only missed one Christmas at the country estate in Norfolk in the past decade — 2020, amid the COVID-19 pandemic. Beatrice, 36, and Eugenie, 34, have spent the holiday there for the majority of Christmases throughout their lives, dating back to when they were young girls. This year will mark the first time Beatrice and Eugenie have spent the Christmas holiday with their respective in-laws since they each married.

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Princess Eugenie and Jack Brooksbank attend the Christmas Day service at Sandringham Church on Dec. 25, 2022 in Sandringham, Norfolk.Samir Hussein/WireImage

The Independentreported that it was Ferguson who encouraged Prince Andrew to bow out of Sandringham Christmas, sacrificing her own invitation in the process.

Princess Beatrice, Counsellor of State and Edoardo Mapelli Mozzi attend the Christmas Day service at St Mary Magdalene Church on Dec. 25, 2023 in Sandringham, Norfolk.Mark Cuthbert/UK Press via Getty

Mark Cuthbert/UK Press via Getty

Ferguson recently spoke toThe Sunday Timesabout Prince Andrew, telling the outlet that, when it comes to marrying the Duke of York, she “would do it all over again, 100 percent.”

The couple married on July 23, 1986 and divorced a decade later.

“He’s the best, a great man with a great heart, and kind,” Ferguson added, saying their wedding day “was the best day of my life.”

“But I gave up my anonymity that day,” she added. “I was able to because love conquers all. It’s still with us today.”

source: people.com