SANDRINGHAM, England- British Prince Andrew chose to skip the traditional Christmas Day walk to church by the Royals after “bumpy” year as stated by his mother Queen Elizabeth in her seasonal address.
The Prince stepped down from his royal duties last month and kept a rather low profile amidst the outrage regarding his friendship with Jeffrey Epstein, a convicted sex offender.
He was filmed earlier walking alongside his brother Prince Charles for a 9 am service to the St Mary Magdalene church near the Queen’s Sandringham estate.
However, he skipped the walk with the other members of the royal family to the 11 am service- a staple of the royal calendar.
This was reported as Andrew’s personal decision by British media. He decided to miss the main service and stay home with father Prince Philip. Buckingham Palace declined to comment.
Prince Philip, the 98-year-old Duke of Edinburgh just checked out from a London hospital in time for Christmas, after treatment for what the Buckingham Palace described as a pre-existing condition.
Both services were attended by Queen Elizabeth. She arrived in a car dressed in a bright red outfit for the 11 am service with daughter-in-law Camilla, Prince Charles’ wife.
In her Christmas address, the 93-year old Queen stressed the importance of reconciliation following a turbulent “bumpy” year for both the royals as well as the country which wrestled with its Brexit divisions.
“The path, of course, is not always smooth, and may at times this year have felt quite bumpy, but small steps can make a world of difference,” she said in the message filmed at Windsor Castle.
Prince Andrew’s Epstein entanglement, Prince Philip’s car crash police warning and Prince William and Harry’s public fall out have been in the news this year.
71-year-old Prince Charles attended the 11 am service with his elder son Prince William, daughter-in-law Kate and two grandchildren, Prince George and Princess Charlotte.
This was Prince George and Princess Charlotte’s first Christmas Day service and they received gifts from wellwishers.
Prince Harry, his wife Meghan and their baby Archie spent Christmas in Canada.
(Photos syndicated via Reuters)
This story has been edited by BH staff and is published from a syndicated field.