Prince Andrew Makes a Rare and Unexpected Christmas Day Appearance
1Prince Andrew, a non-working member of the Royal Family, stepped into the public eye for a rare appearance as he joined the rest of the royal family for the Christmas Day service at St Mary Magdalene in Sandringham this morning.
The Duke of York, who withdrew from official royal duties in 2020 due to controversial associations with Jeffrey Epstein, was captured walking alongside King Charles and other family members on their way to the traditional Christmas service.
Although no longer participating in official royal engagements, Prince Andrew is still included in the family’s Christmas celebrations, having been spotted at the pre-Christmas lunch at Windsor Castle on December 20.
While he supported his elder brother during the May Coronation, he did not receive an official role and did not appear on the Buckingham Palace balcony alongside other senior royals, in contrast to his sister Princess Anne.
The Christmas church service at St Mary Magdalene is considered a private event rather than an official royal engagement, allowing the Duke to attend without violating his non-working royal status. This flexibility also applied to his participation in the private family lunch the previous week.