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Royal Slumber Wars: Prince Edward and Duchess Sophie Allegedly 'Less Than Pleased' to Share Holiday Quarters With Embattled Prince Andrew

Prince Edward, 60, and his wife, Sophie, Duchess of Edinburgh, 59, were "less than pleased" to spend the holidays with scandal-ladden Prince Andrew, 64, a source reported.

Before the Duke of York backed out of staying at Sandringham with the royals, the Edinburgh's were allegedly assigned to stay with Andrew in Wood Farm on the Norfolk estate.

Sarah Ferguson, 65, reportedly convinced her ex-spouse to skip this year's royal Christmas, which if he did not relent would have seen the Edinburgh's lodging "cheek by jowl with the Yorks."

The "modest" cottage is famously where Prince Philip, the previous Duke of Edinburgh, lived during his retirement. The late Duke's youngest child, Edward, and his wife are seen by many analysts to be King Charles III's "most valuable players" after Prince William and Kate, Princess of Wales, both 42.

Despite their 1996 divorce, Ferguson remains a close confidante to the Duke of York and has reportedly been tasked with persuading him to adopt a lower profile during the holiday season.

This strategic move aims to prevent further damage to the monarchy’s reputation after recent revelations about Andrew's alleged ties to Chinese spy Yang Tengbo.

According to palace insiders, Ferguson, affectionately known as "Fergie," has taken on the role of peacekeeper with remarkable grace. Her enduring influence over the embattled Duke has already proven effective in convincing him to withdraw from the royal family's Christmas celebrations at Sandringham. Instead, Andrew and Fergie spent the holiday season quietly at the Royal Lodge in Windsor, marking a departure from tradition.

The new controversy centers on Andrew’s association with Tengbo, who has been banned from the U.K. on national security grounds. The businessman, who attended events at royal residences, is accused of exploiting his relationship with the Duke for influence.

This has reignited calls for the eighth in line to the throne to distance himself from public royal duties permanently. By stepping away from high-profile appearances, Andrew reportedly hopes to deflect further criticism.

The former Duchess of York’s involvement highlights her unique role within the royal fold. Despite no longer being an official member of the monarchy, she has remained a steadfast supporter of her ex-husband, skillfully balancing loyalty to Andrew with the need to protect the royal family’s image.

Her mediation efforts have been praised by some insiders, with one noting, "Fergie has an extraordinary ability to navigate delicate family dynamics. She’s the only one who can get through to Andrew."

This isn’t the first time Ferguson has stepped in to smooth tensions between Andrew and the monarchy. In 2019, following the fallout from his association with convicted s-- offender Jeffrey Epstein, she played a key role in helping him adjust to his withdrawal from public duties.

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Marie Claire reported on the expert opinions.