Katherine, the Princess of Wales, is preparing to finalize her guest list for this year’s annual Christmas Carol Service — and one royal reportedly won’t be receiving an invitation again. Sources say Prince Andrew will remain excluded from the family’s festive event amid the lingering fallout from his association with Jeffrey Epstein.
According to insiders who spoke with RadarOnline, the Princess of Wales has been “physically and emotionally drained” by the ongoing scandal surrounding her husband’s uncle. The 43-year-old royal, who has been recovering from major stomach surgery and a cancer diagnosis, is said to be “deeply upset” by the renewed attention on Andrew.
“Kate’s both devastated and angry,” one family source said. “She feels let down after spending years helping to rebuild public faith in the royals, only for Andrew’s actions to undo so much of that progress. She’s adamant this has to stop now – she won’t let it stain the future for her children.”
The controversy flared up again following the release of Nobody’s Girl, the posthumous memoir of Jeffrey Epstein victim Virginia Giuffre, which mentioned both Prince Andrew and his ex-wife Sarah “Fergie” Ferguson. The resurfacing of the scandal reportedly caused fresh tension within the royal household.
“She’s concentrating on her recovery, body and mind,” another insider said. “That’s why all the upheaval around Andrew feels unbearable to her. She’s doing her best to stay centered for her children and William, but this constant drama makes it incredibly hard.”
A senior royal aide told reporters that Prince William shares his wife’s frustration and believes the monarchy must move forward without the weight of old controversies. “William and Kate are completely aligned on this,” the aide said. “They’ve told the King that things have to change – the monarchy needs to move forward without favoritism or fresh controversy. In their view, Andrew and Sarah staying at Royal Lodge just keeps the family stuck in old scandals.”
The Princess of Wales is expected to host her annual Christmas Carol Service again this year, an event typically broadcast on Christmas Eve. Last year’s celebration featured Prince William and their children — Prince George, Princess Charlotte, and Prince Louis — welcoming guests in London.
King Charles III and Queen Camilla did not attend the 2024 service due to health reasons, though other senior royals were present. Prince Andrew, however, was noticeably absent.
Reports suggest that King Charles previously asked William and Kate to allow Andrew to attend the holiday event at Balmoral, even proposing that they ride together to church for a show of unity. The royal couple allegedly declined and remain firm in their stance — meaning Prince Andrew will likely be excluded once again this Christmas.
