Her Majesty usually hosts up to 30 members at Sandringham Estate, but because of COVID, Prince Andrew and other members will not be joining. According to royal aides, they have already started planning “Christmas six.”
The list includes the Queen, her husband, Prince Philip, Prince Charles, Camila Parker-Bowles, Prince William, and Kate Middleton.
Prince Andrew, who hasn’t worked as a senior royal since stepping down in November due to his links to disgraced financier Jeffrey Epstein, isn’t expected. Moreover, royal renegades Prince Harry and Meghan Markle are also not expected for Christmas.
However, they will be in the UK for Meghan’s privacy trial set for January.
According to an insider who spoke to The Sun on Sunday, “The Queen has insisted that she will abide by the rule of six but intends to go ahead with spending a family Christmas at Sandringham.”
They added, “Prince Philip is expected to join for Christmas dinner from Wood Farm cottage. Charles and Camilla will be there for Christmas Day but leave on Boxing Day.”
The Cambridges will be around Anmer Hall and want to attend the Queen’s dinner, but their kids Prince George, Prince Louis, and Princess Charlotte, will not be in attendance.
Almost a year after his car-crash BBC interview, Prince Andrew is, reportedly, hoping he would be allowed to return to his duties.
The 60-year-old dad-of-two believes that he can still “support the monarchy” and go back to public duties despite numerous royal family concerns.
An insider revealed to The Times that Her Majesty always has a soft spot for her favorite son, and there’s a possibility that she would give him the green light to get back on the frontline of the royals.
However, it’s not just Queen Elizabeth II would also need to get the votes of other royals, such as Prince Charles and Prince William.
The source added that it would be hard to convince the father-son duo, despite the Duke of York’s insistence that he has done nothing wrong.
Currently, Prince Andrew is under pressure to engage entirely with investigators in the US. The Duke has been hiding in his Royal Lodge home in Windsor, reportedly thinking what his next moves will be, as per the source.
Princess Eugenie and Princess Beatrice’s dad is said to be confident that he will be able to clear his name.