King Charles Urged to be a ‘Role Model’ as Princess Eugenie’s Christmas Plans Take Shape
Christmas for the royals is not complete without their traditional church walk at Sandringham. With December 25 fast approaching, attention has quietly shifted to who will join the rest of the family for the royal lineup. While the official guest list is still not confirmed, Princess Eugenie is widely said to attend the annual gathering at Norfolk. Her likely presence follows after a warm reception at King Charles's pre-Christmas lunch on December 16 signaling the monarch's wish to emphasize family unity. Whether she will attend the festivities or not is still up for question, but one royal expert has urged Charles to act as a role model.
Attention reached an all-time high when Eugenie and Princess Beatrice attended the pre-Christmas gathering alongside the rest of the royals. This high-profile appearance further fueled interest in whether the York sisters would join the rest of the family members for the church walk. However, current reports suggest their festive plans are set to change, with Beatrice not even being in the country. As per a source quoted by GB News, she is expected to travel abroad with her husband, Edoardo Mapelli Mozzi, opting for a private ski trip rather than joining the wider royal gathering in Sandringham. “Beatrice doesn’t want to cause any embarrassment and was torn between loyalty to the King and her parents,” the source revealed.
The source also noted that Beatrice “didn’t want it to look like they were snubbing anyone, so it was easier to go off with friends” to avoid the difficult question of choosing between the royals and celebrating the holidays with her parents at Royal Lodge. If these reports hold, then her absence would leave Eugenie alone at Sandringham this Christmas. On this, royal commentator Laura Windsor believes the Princess’s expected attendance at the royal gathering is both natural and appropriate.
The protocol advisor dismissed suggestions that Eugenie’s presence would be overshadowed by the ongoing controversies of her parents. “Of course she’ll be invited,” she said. “She’s the child. She’s not her father,” Windsor opined. She also pointed to the Princess's relationship with other senior royals, noting her appreciation for the support she has received during a challenging period for her family. Along with this, Laura Windsor also argued that Christmas offers Charles a significant opportunity to demonstrate steady leadership by choosing inclusion over further division. “King Charles is a role model,” she said, “and he should be definitely emphasising that family is important.”
The Christmas walk to St. Mary Magdalene Church remains one of the most closely watched moments in the royal calendar with each attendance and absence carefully looked at for deeper meaning. Windsor rejected the idea that Eugenie’s appearance would complicate the King’s decision to exclude Mountbatten-Windsor, noting that neither York sister has ever been a working royal. “It’s all about family,” she said, suggesting the focus should rest on stability and continuity during a period of reflection for the monarchy.