Princess Beatrice Reportedly Will Stay Away From Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor This Christmas

She was faced with two royal invitations — but instead of choosing between her disgraced father or the King, Princess Beatrice has vanished from the drama entirely.

Princess Beatrice of York has snubbed both her royal roots and her scandal-ridden parents this Christmas, choosing instead to escape abroad amid the mounting disgrace surrounding her father's ties to convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein.

In what insiders say is a painful fracture within the House of Windsor, the 37-year-old royal has reportedly refused invitations to spend the festive season with either King Charles at Sandringham or her parents Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor and Sarah Ferguson at Royal Lodge — their final Christmas in the residence before vacating the premises after being stripped of their titles.

Instead, Beatrice will hit the slopes on a skiing getaway with her husband, Edo Mapelli Mozzi, and close friends — a dramatic retreat from royal tradition as her father's reputation sinks ever deeper into scandal.

'Torn' Princess Trapped Between King and Scandal

A friend confided to The Sun that Beatrice felt "tormented" by the "tug" between the royals and her embattled parents. "Beatrice doesn't want to cause any embarrassment and was torn between loyalty to the King and her parents. That is why with Eugenie they went to Buckingham Palace for the pre-Christmas family lunch," the friend said.

"She appreciates the way that the King and William have looked after her during everything that has been happening with Andy and Sarah," the friend added. "She didn't want it to look like they were snubbing anyone so it was easier to go off with friends."

Her younger sister, Princess Eugenie, is reportedly facing the same impossible choice, and while it remains unknown where she will go for the the holiday season, she is expected to spend it with her husband Jack Brooksbank.

Grinch at the Gates: Andrew's Gloom Casts a Shadow Over Windsor

Andrew, once dubbed the late Queen's favorite son, is now the Windsor family pariah. A source grimly remarked, "With everything that's gone on, he's very much like the Grinch. It's clear this year that festive cheer is in short supply."

For the first time in two decades, the Royal Lodge has gone undecorated for Christmas. The traditional holiday trimmings — two large wreaths and a tree perched above the entrance — are noticeably absent this year. The festive silence is deafening.

The timing is no coincidence. On Friday, 19 December, U.S. justice officials released newly unsealed Epstein files, exposing an even darker web of sordid connections — and Andrew was right in the thick of it.

Newly Released Photos Show Andrew and Sarah in Epstein's Orbit

Among the damning evidence: disturbing photographs featuring both Andrew and ex-wife Sarah in the company of unidentified women with faces obscured — their presence captured in what appear to be separate, intimate settings.

In one shot, Sarah is perched on a patterned sofa in a room lined with artwork, wearing a purple coat as she leans forward in conversation beside a mystery woman scribbling notes.

Another shows the former Duchess of York smiling on a city street — again accompanied by a woman, this time with shopping bags in hand, whose face has been blurred out.

But the most shocking image? Andrew himself, sprawled across the laps of five women whose faces are blacked out — while Epstein's notorious accomplice Ghislaine Maxwell stands close by.

Denials, Settlements — And a Royal Reputation in Ruins

Though both Andrew and Sarah have repeatedly denied any wrongdoing, their proximity to Epstein — and the explicit photographic evidence — has left a stain on the monarchy that no amount of denial can cleanse.

The scandal erupted in full force back in 2019, when Virginia Giuffre accused Andrew of sexually assaulting her on three occasions when she was just 17 years old — a minor under U.S. law. She alleged Epstein trafficked her for sex with the former Prince, who has vehemently denied the allegations.

In August 2021, she filed a federal lawsuit in New York, and though Andrew admitted no guilt, he agreed to a multi-million-pound settlement in February 2022 — reported to be more than £7 million, excluding his own towering legal costs.

The Price of Silence

The settlement — officially called a "settlement in principle" — included a substantial donation to Virginia's charity for abuse survivors. A statement released at the time said Andrew "never intended to malign Ms. Giuffre's character," acknowledging she had "suffered both as an established victim of abuse and as a result of unfair public attacks."

He also pledged to "demonstrate his regret for his association" with Epstein by supporting the fight against sex trafficking.

But for the British public and much of the royal family, the damage was already done. Andrew's presence remains a deeply uncomfortable reminder of a scandal the monarchy would rather forget.

Family Fractured: Beatrice and Eugenie Caught in the Crossfire

Even intimate family milestones are now clouded by discomfort. Earlier this month, Beatrice and Edo celebrated the christening of their daughter, Athena, at the Chapel Royal in St James's Palace — but the guest list revealed a painful divide.

Though Andrew and Sarah attended the ceremony, it marked the first time the disgraced couple had stepped inside a royal palace since losing their titles — and they pointedly did not join in the post-christening celebrations at a nearby pub with family and friends.

A source previously told the Mail on Sunday, "It's going to be a royal occasion but everyone is dreading the thought of seeing Andrew there." Despite maintaining a close relationship with her mother, Beatrice's bond with her father is reportedly strained.

Another insider shared, "Beatrice has, of course, invited her father. But things are not warm between them. However, she's worried about him. He's going through a low ebb with his mental health and she recognises that he dotes on his grandchildren."

They added, "And it would be cruel to deprive him of the chance to attend the christening. Some careful conversations and diplomacy with King Charles will have taken place to get to this stage."

A Princess in Exile, A Palace in Peril

As the monarchy reels from fresh humiliation, Princess Beatrice's choice to flee royal obligations signals just how far the ripple effects of Epstein's crimes have reached — right into the heart of Windsor's next generation.

With King Charles tightening the reins on the Firm and public trust hanging by a thread, one thing is clear: this Christmas, there's no peace at Royal Lodge — only silence, scandal, and snow-covered escape.