Monarch demands Duke and Duchess of York remain ‘invisible’ at future family events after fresh Jeffrey Epstein revelations rock palace
King Charles has indicated that Prince Andrew and Sarah Ferguson will not be welcome at the Royal Family’s Christmas celebrations this year, with sources revealing the monarch wants the divorced couple to remain “invisible” at future family gatherings.
The dramatic decision comes after fresh revelations that the Duchess of York maintained contact with convicted paedophile Jeffrey Epstein despite publicly denouncing him in 2011, adding to the mounting scandals surrounding the Duke and Duchess of York.
According to sources close to the King, Charles intends to keep his brother and former sister-in-law at a distance as the monarchy grapples with yet another reputational crisis linked to the late sex offender.
Royal Exile at Christmas
The Duke and Duchess of York, who divorced in 1996 but continue to share Royal Lodge in Windsor, face their second consecutive Christmas away from the traditional Sandringham festivities. Last year, Charles enlisted Sarah Ferguson’s help to persuade Andrew to “do the decent thing” and stay away following revelations about his connections with alleged Chinese spy Yang Tengbo.
A source close to the King told The Times: “You can’t sack someone from being your brother. But this year, if the duke and duchess were both to be as honourable [as last year], it would be very much for the best and the family would not be disappointed, not least to avoid the King having to make any more difficult decisions.”
Friends of the duchess said she was “devastated for any embarrassment” caused by the latest revelations and “will explain herself to the wider Royal Family in due course.
The couple spent last Christmas at Royal Lodge without their daughters, Princess Beatrice, 37, and Princess Eugenie, 35, who typically join the wider family celebrations.
Demand for Discretion
Friends of the King have suggested he wants Andrew and Sarah to use discreet entrances when they do attend unavoidable family occasions, expressing concern about their recent public appearances alongside other royals.
Tensions were evident earlier this month when the couple made a prominent entrance at the Duchess of Kent’s funeral at Westminster Cathedral, which the King also attended.
According to a friend of the monarch: “The King is not of the mind to banish someone worshipping at church or attending family occasions like a funeral. But he would hope they would find a more discreet way of attending these events. In the Duke of York’s case, he seems to relish the prospect of not being low-key about it.”
During the funeral service, Andrew, 65, was observed attempting to engage the Prince of Wales, 43, in casual conversation. William, who regards his uncle as a reputational “risk” and “threat” to the monarchy, avoided engaging with him and fully supports his father’s tougher stance.
Epstein Email Scandal
The latest crisis erupted after British newspapers The Sun and Mail on Sunday published details of an email Ferguson sent to Epstein in April 2011, weeks after publicly vowing never to associate with him again.
In a March 2011 interview with the Evening Standard, Ferguson had stated: “I abhor paedophilia and any sexual abuse of children and know that this was a gigantic error of judgment on my behalf. I am just so contrite I cannot say. Whenever I can, I will repay the money and have nothing ever to do with Jeffrey Epstein ever again.”
However, the following month, she reportedly emailed Epstein apologising for her public comments and calling him a “steadfast, generous and supreme friend to me and my family,” according to the newspapers’ reports.
A spokesperson for Ferguson said the email was sent after Epstein threatened legal action for defamation, stating the duchess sent it “in the context of advice she was given to try to assuage Epstein and his threats.”
Charity Fallout
The revelations have had immediate consequences for the duchess. Multiple charities swiftly severed ties with Ferguson following the email’s publication.
Julia’s House, a children’s hospice charity, stated it would be “inappropriate for her to continue as a patron of the charity.” The Teenage Cancer Trust, Natasha Allergy Research Foundation, and several other organisations also ended their relationships with the duchess.
Actress Natalie Dormer, who portrays Ferguson in the upcoming ITV series “The Lady,” announced she would not promote the show and would donate her salary to charities focused on child abuse.
William and Charles United
Charles and William, who are currently in Scotland, are thought to have discussed these developments and present a united front on the Andrew situation. William’s stance is particularly firm, viewing his uncle as an ongoing threat to the institution’s reputation.
The change in approach marks a particular setback for the duchess, whom Charles had welcomed back into the royal fold after becoming King in 2022. He invited her to the Christmas gathering at Sandringham in 2023—her first invitation in 30 years—where she joined the family’s traditional walk to church alongside Andrew and their daughters.
Chinese Spy Scandal
The Epstein revelations compound existing concerns about Andrew’s judgment following last December’s Chinese spy scandal. Yang Tengbo, who was named by a British court on Monday, had developed what judges described as an “unusual degree of trust” with Andrew.
Yang, also known as Chris Yang, was co-founder of Pitch@Palace China, expanding Andrew’s entrepreneurial initiative into China. Court documents revealed he was authorised to act on Andrew’s behalf during business meetings with potential Chinese investors and was invited to the duke’s 60th birthday party in 2020.
In a statement released through his lawyers, Yang said “the widespread description of me as a ‘spy’ is entirely untrue” and that he had “done nothing wrong or unlawful.”
Andrew’s office stated he “ceased all contact with the individual after concerns were raised” and that he “met the individual through official channels with nothing of a sensitive nature ever discussed.”
Pattern of Poor Judgment
The latest scandals add to a long history of controversial associations for Andrew, whose friendship with Jeffrey Epstein led to his withdrawal from public life in 2019. Following a disastrous BBC Newsnight interview about his relationship with Epstein, he was forced to give up all royal duties and charity roles.
Andrew paid a substantial settlement to Virginia Giuffre, who alleged he sexually abused her when she was 17 years old and trafficked by Epstein. The prince denied the allegations but agreed to the out-of-court settlement without admitting liability.
For Sarah Ferguson, the situation represents a dramatic reversal of fortune. Having spent three decades largely excluded from royal events following her 1996 divorce, she had experienced something of a rehabilitation under Charles’s reign, attending Royal Ascot, Easter services, and even Wimbledon’s royal box for the first time in nearly 30 years.
Future Uncertainty
As the Royal Family prepares for Christmas at Sandringham without the Yorks, questions remain about their long-term position within the family structure. The King’s instruction that they remain “invisible” at future events suggests a hardening of attitudes at the palace.
The ongoing scandals continue to pose challenges for the monarchy as it attempts to modernise and maintain public support. With both Andrew and Sarah Ferguson now facing fresh scrutiny over their past associations, their exile from royal celebrations appears set to continue indefinitely.
As one palace source observed, the latest revelations serve as a warning about how much more might emerge from what has become one of the monarchy’s biggest post-war scandals. The Royal Family’s popularity data has been shaky in recent years, with republican campaigners citing the Epstein connections as a significant factor in declining support.
For now, the Duke and Duchess of York will spend another Christmas at Royal Lodge, increasingly isolated from the family they were once at the heart of.
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