Prince Andrew and Sarah Ferguson stay away from royal Easter gathering
Prince Andrew and Sarah Ferguson spent Easter apart from the royal family this year, just one year after appearing at the traditional church service. Their absence drew fresh attention as controversy around Andrew continues to grow.
King Charles attended the Easter Mattins service on Sunday, April 5, at St. George’s Chapel inside Windsor Castle with members of the royal family. Missing from the gathering, however, were Prince Andrew and his former wife Sarah Ferguson. Their absence quickly became one of the most talked-about details of the day as pressure surrounding Andrew has intensified in recent months.
They were there last year, but not this time
Prince Andrew and Sarah Ferguson joined the royal family for Easter last year and were seen alongside other senior figures during the holiday service. This year, both remained away from the event. Their decision to stay out of the spotlight came as scrutiny around Andrew has continued to deepen.
Pressure around Andrew has grown again
Andrew stepped back from public duties in 2019 after his BBC interview about his ties to Jeffrey Epstein sparked widespread backlash. Even after that, he continued to appear at some family occasions, including church outings and funerals.
That changed further in October 2025, when King Charles removed Andrew’s royal titles as renewed attention focused on his links to Epstein.
New claims intensified the crisis
The publication of Virginia Giuffre’s posthumous memoir brought fresh attention to the controversy. At the same time, the release of more than three million pages connected to the Epstein investigation pushed Andrew’s name back into the center of public debate.
The material renewed scrutiny over the extent of the links between Andrew, Epstein and Ferguson.
The legal pressure remains in focus
Andrew was later reported to have been arrested on February 19 on suspicion of misconduct in public office. The investigation is said to focus on claims that he may have shared confidential information with Epstein while serving as the UK’s trade envoy.
That development added to the growing pressure already surrounding him.
Beatrice and Eugenie also made other plans
Andrew and Ferguson’s daughters, Princess Beatrice and Princess Eugenie, also did not join the royal family for Easter this year. They are understood to have made alternative plans for the holiday with the knowledge of King Charles.
The two sisters had attended the family’s Christmas gathering in December without their parents, and they are still expected to appear at future family occasions.
Royal Ascot claim adds to attention
Princess Beatrice and Princess Eugenie are also expected to miss Royal Ascot this year. That claim added another layer to speculation about how deeply the current controversy is affecting the wider York family circle.
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