King Charles Shuts Out Prince Andrew and Sarah Ferguson from Royal Christmas Amid Epstein Letter Scandal: Report
King is reportedly hoping to keep his scandal-plagued brother and ex-wife as “invisible” as possible moving forward
King Charles is taking steps to publicly distance Prince Andrew and Sarah Ferguson.
The Sunday Times recently reported that the former couple, who are facing a recently reignited scandal over their past ties to billionaire predator Jeffrey Epstein, will not be welcome at the family’s Christmas celebrations this year.
Similar to last year, when Andrew’s Chinese spy scandal was in the headlines and Sarah was “enlisted” to keep him from the family festivities, the King has once again asked the pair to keep a low profile at the holidays and celebrate on their own.
A source close to King Charles told the outlet, “You can’t sack someone from being your brother. But this year, if the duke and duchess were both to be as honourable [as last year], it would be very much for the best and the family would not be disappointed, not least to avoid the King having to make any more difficult decisions.”
A representative for the Duchess of York had no comment when reached by PEOPLE. PEOPLE has also reached out to Prince Andrew for comment.
For the 2024 holidays, the Duke and Duchess of York stayed at their Windsor residence, Royal Lodge, while the King and other family members — including their elder daughter, Princess Beatrice, and her family — gathered for the traditional festivities at Sandringham Estate in Norfolk.
The pair’s younger daughter, Princess Eugenie, spent the holiday with her husband, Jack Brooksbank, and his side of the family.
King Charles with members of the royal family at Christmas 2024. OLI SCARFF/AFP via Getty
King Charles is taking steps to publicly distance Prince Andrew and Sarah Ferguson.
The Sunday Times recently reported that the former couple, who are facing a recently reignited scandal over their past ties to billionaire predator Jeffrey Epstein, will not be welcome at the family’s Christmas celebrations this year.
Similar to last year, when Andrew’s Chinese spy scandal was in the headlines and Sarah was “enlisted” to keep him from the family festivities, the King has once again asked the pair to keep a low profile at the holidays and celebrate on their own.
A source close to King Charles told the outlet, “You can’t sack someone from being your brother. But this year, if the duke and duchess were both to be as honourable [as last year], it would be very much for the best and the family would not be disappointed, not least to avoid the King having to make any more difficult decisions.”
A representative for the Duchess of York had no comment when reached by PEOPLE. PEOPLE has also reached out to Prince Andrew for comment.
For the 2024 holidays, the Duke and Duchess of York stayed at their Windsor residence, Royal Lodge, while the King and other family members — including their elder daughter, Princess Beatrice, and her family — gathered for the traditional festivities at Sandringham Estate in Norfolk.
The pair’s younger daughter, Princess Eugenie, spent the holiday with her husband, Jack Brooksbank, and his side of the family.
King Charles with members of the royal family at Christmas 2024. OLI SCARFF/AFP via Getty
Since then, he has been kept out of the spotlight against his wishes, biographer Andrew Lownie claimed in an August 2025 interview with Sky News tied to the release of his new book, Entitled: The Rise and Fall of the House of York.
“What most annoys him is his lack of a royal status,” Lownie said of Andrew’s reduced role. “That’s what really sort of gave him his whole sense of identity. And that’s, you know, it’s not being able to put on his uniforms and strut around and being self-important.”
However, new details about Prince Andrew’s connection to Epstein continue to come to light, more than five years after the convicted sex offender died in prison.
On Oct. 12, The Mail on Sunday and The Sun on Sunday concurrently published an email that the Duke of York allegedly wrote to Epstein the day after the infamous picture of the prince with his arm around Giuffre was published by The Mail on Sunday in 2011.
Andrew reportedly wrote, “I’m just as concerned for you! Don’t worry about me! It would seem we are in this together and will have to rise above it.”
“Otherwise, keep in close touch, and we’ll play some more soon!!!!” he added, before signing off with “A, HRH The Duke of York, KG” (a reference to him being a knight of the prestigious Order of the Garter).
Prince Andrew, Virginia Giuffre, and Ghislaine Maxwell pose for a 2001 photo that was released on Aug, 9, 2021 by the United States District Court for the Southern District of New York.HANDOUT/US District Court – Southern Dis/AFP via Getty
As for Fergie, her own online correspondence with Epstein has also come under recent scrutiny. Last month, she was dropped as the patron of multiple charitable organizations after it was revealed that she’d sent an email to Epstein apologizing for publicly disowning him.
In a March 2011 interview with the Evening Standard, the duchess said she had made a “terrible, terrible error of judgment” when she accepted nearly $20,000 from Epstein to pay off debts, adding, “I abhor paedophilia.”
However, the following month, she reportedly backtracked in an email to Epstein, calling him a “steadfast, generous and supreme friend.”
“As you know, I did not, absolutely not, say the P [pedophile] word about you,” she reportedly wrote. “I know you feel hellaciously let down by me. And I must humbly apologise to you and your heart for that. You have always been a steadfast, generous and supreme friend to me and my family.”
Melania Trump, Prince Andrew, Gwendolyn Beck and Jeffrey Epstein at a Mar-a-Lago party in 2000.Davidoff Studios/Getty
On Sept. 22, 2025, following the publication of the email, the Duchess of York was dropped by the children’s hospice Julia’s House, the Natasha Allergy Research Foundation, the Children’s Literacy Charity, Teenage Cancer Trust, Prevent Breast Cancer, the British Heart Foundation and the National Foundation for Retired Service Animals.
Julia’s House shared a statement with PEOPLE saying, “Following the information shared this weekend on the Duchess of York’s correspondence with Jeffrey Epstein, Julia’s House has taken the decision that it would be inappropriate for her to continue as a patron of the charity. We have advised the Duchess of York of this decision and thank her for her past support.”
A spokesperson for the Duchess of York declined to comment on her status with Julia’s House but shared a statement to PEOPLE addressing the reports about her email to Epstein: “The Duchess spoke of her regret about her association with Epstein many years ago, and as they have always been her first thoughts are with his victims. Like many people, she was taken in by his lies. As soon as she was aware of the extent of the allegations against him, she not only cut off contact but condemned him publicly, to the extent that he then threatened to sue her for defamation for associating him with paedophilia. She does not resile from anything she said then. This email was sent in the context of advice the Duchess was given to try to assuage Epstein and his threats.”
