Inside the Royal Family Christmas: Who’s in, and who’s out

King Charles III, right, with Queen Camilla, centre, the Princess of Wales, left, Prince Louis, and Prince William walk as they go to the Christmas day service at St Mary Magdalene Church in Sandringham in Norfolk, England, Wednesday, Dec. 25, 2024. (AP Photo/Jon Super)

Afua Hagan is a contributor to CTVNews.ca, focusing on the Royal Family. Based in London and Accra, Hagan is a regular commentator on the royals across a variety of international outlets, and is a leading voice on diversity in Britain.

For most families, Christmas is a time of ritual, routine and, if we’re honest, the occasional awkward reunion.

For the Royal Family, however, the festive season at Sandringham has never simply been about mince pies and church services. It is a meticulously choreographed occasion – a symbolic performance of unity, continuity and stability. But this year, more than most, that performance will be scrutinized like never before.

As King Charles gets ready to host another Christmas as King, and the first after sharing about his cancer diagnosis last year, one big question lingers: who will make it into the inner circle at Sandringham, and more importantly – who will be left out?

So, who will definitely not be attending the Royal Family Christmas? Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor.

Andrew stands at the heart of controversy. He was once the Monarchy’s most self-assured spokesperson but has now turned into its most problematic burden.

His catastrophic BBC Newsnight interview in 2019 and the chaos that followed due to his ties with Jeffrey Epstein changed his position. He shifted from being a prominent working royal to someone whose mere appearance triggers outrage.

Unlike shamed business leaders or politicians, Andrew holds a complicated position as he is both a private family member and a public figure.

Last Christmas, they allowed him to join the Royal Family’s walk to church, though he stayed a quiet distance from the top royals. The palace described it as a “family gesture” to show kindness, not an attempt to restore his reputation.

But things are different now. Andrew has now been stripped of his royal titles and is being exiled to the Sandringham estate – notably where the family spends the Christmas period.

Andrew being ousted from the Royal Family Christmas works well this year, but it may become awkward moving forward. Royal correspondent Sarah Hewson told me, “Much as there is pressure on Andrew to move out of Royal Lodge, it suits the family that he’s not living on the Sandringham estate before Christmas. It may be that in the future they decide to reinstate the Windsor Castle Christmas tradition started by Queen Victoria.”

This raises a yearly challenge: How can the Monarchy balance family loyalty with the need to answer to the public?

Having Andrew at Sandringham would bring back headlines about lawsuits, controversies, and unresolved doubts over his involvement with Epstein’s network. Keeping him out of the spotlight though, sends a much stronger message – this new Carolean era is not here for scandals that tarnish reputations.

The palace will choose to go with the second option. If Andrew does show up, it will be in private, away from cameras. But even that choice will lead to discussions about whether the Monarchy can hold its own family accountable.

And what about Andrew’s daughters, Princesses Beatrice and Eugenie, and his ex-wife, Sarah Ferguson? Sarah was only recently allowed back to Christmas as Sandringham. But last year, both she and Andrew stayed away because of the controversy over the former duke’s ties to an alleged Chinese spy, Yang Tengbo. Tengbo has denied allegations that he is a spy, but Andrew was reportedly dubbed a national security risk by security services, according to the Mirror’s coverage this week.

Princesses Beatrice and Eugenie are in a very difficult position this Christmas. Do they chose to keep up with Joneses – or rather the royals – this year, in an attempt to keep their reputations intact, or do they escape to sunnier climes and away from the drama that has followed their parents this year?

Royal biographer Andrew Lownie told Cosmopolitan UK that Beatrice and Eugenie may opt to distance themselves and “go to Sandringham and muck in with the big party rather than with their parents.” He told the publication that their careers have “predicated on their remaining princesses and remaining in the royal fold… So, we will see them want to maintain that.”

There is also a possibility that Beatrice and Eugenie will skip Christmas with the royals altogether.

“Last year, Eugenie went to her husband’s family,” Lownie told Cosmopolitan UK, adding that the pair may already have “commitments with their in-laws.”

The Queen’s son, Tom Parker Bowles, from her first marriage to Andrew Parker Bowles, won’t be joining the Royal Family at Sandringham this year either.

Speaking to the Daily Mail he said, “I’m not. Nor is my sister. It’ll be every other year, one year on, one year off.” It seems they will be spending the festive season with other family members this year.

And then there is the ongoing Sussex question. Harry and Meghan are happily living in California and focused on their own media projects, charity work and business ventures. They have not attended Christmas at Sandringham since 2019, which feels like ages ago by royal standards. But is there any chance they’ll be invited back – and would they even want to attend?

For King Charles, an invitation would act as an olive branch. It would show that despite the pain caused by Harry’s memoir Spare, the Oprah interview, and the Netflix series, reconciliation is still possible. As a monarch dealing with health issues and the long-term future of the monarchy, offering peace has meaningful value. After all, any family – whether royal or not – understands the significance of an empty seat during the holidays. Even if someone invited the Sussexes, would they want to walk back into such a challenging situation?

Going back to Sandringham seems risky from their viewpoint. It would spark global headlines and stir talk about whether they are mending royal relationships or just engaging in PR efforts. For Meghan, visiting the U.K. again would bring back heavy media attention. That same intense focus played a big part in why they left to begin with.

The practical side of appearances cannot be ignored here. The Prince and Princess of Wales, still bouncing back from a tough 2024, continue to represent the core of the Monarchy’s public image.

If Harry were to reunite with them, some might see it as a joyful moment. Others however, might see it as distracting from Catherine’s gradual return to her royal duties or William’s growing role as a statesman.

What’s the most probable outcome? A quiet invitation might be offered as a gesture, but it seems almost certain Harry won’t accept it. Aside from that, the Sussexes don’t feel they have adequate security to facilitate a visit to the U.K., something that is being reviewed in January, reported The Sun last week.

Everyone involved knows a Christmas reunion would create more drama than progress and could disrupt the slow effort to rebuild trust on both sides.

The headlines may focus on who is showing up for Christmas, but it’s crucial to understand why this year feels so intense. The Monarchy is going through a delicate shift.

Christmas at Sandringham has long shown the state of royal relationships, royal commentator Daisy McAndrew told me.

“This year’s Sandringham lineup is noticeably trimmed,” she said, “The Yorks are out, the Sussexes are a non-starter, Camilla’s children aren’t bothering – they’re on their ‘alternate year’ rota – and the Middletons are doing their own Christmas these days. So, it’s less sprawling family free-for-all, more tight, curated court circle around the King, Queen and the Waleses. Think royal Christmas, but on a strict VIP list,” she said.

Charles’s health issues have led the Royal Family to function in a way that resembles a semi-regency, with Prince William stepping up with a bigger role. The Princess of Wales has had to manage both her health and her public duties. Meanwhile, the King’s plan to create a more streamlined monarchy is facing a real-world test.

Amid all this, Sandringham is more than just a festive family meetup. It serves as a key moment in their public messaging. The famous stroll to St. Mary Magdalene Church, the sight of the royals giving gifts on Christmas Eve, and the calm family moments within the estate all work to show a picture of tradition. A family together. A steady monarchy. A firm Crown.

However, unity is not something you can fake. It needs to be real to hold up under close examination, and this year, the people who are missing will make just as much noise as those who are present.

If Andrew does not show up, it shows a monarchy that avoids bringing old issues into today’s world. If Harry and Meghan stay in California, it shows the divide in the family is still unresolved. If the Waleses look united and self-assured, it gives an image of fresh beginnings. And if King Charles manages to lead the Christmas traditions despite his health struggles, it highlights the lasting power of the Monarchy.

The world waits to see who will walk down the Sandringham path and who will not. One thing is clear though – the Royal Family’s guest list always reveals something. This year, it might reveal more than ever.