The former prince is reportedly pushing for a place at Sandringham this Christmas, with Queen Camilla, Princess Anne and Prince Edward said to be urging King Charles to reconsider – but Prince William is allegedly prepared to walk away
Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor is reportedly preparing to challenge his exclusion from the royal family’s Christmas celebrations, with sources claiming three senior royals are encouraging King Charles to show his brother greater leniency.
The former prince, 66, is said to be increasingly confident following a recent legal victory involving Thames Valley Police and is now focused on securing an invitation to the family’s traditional festive gathering at Sandringham.
However, the reported demand threatens to create another headache for the King, who is said to want to keep his brother at a distance. Prince William is also reportedly firmly opposed to the idea of Andrew joining the family on Christmas Day.
According to insiders, Queen Camilla, Princess Anne and Prince Edward have been encouraging the monarch to reconsider his position, raising the prospect of a fresh disagreement behind palace walls.
Andrew has denied any wrongdoing in connection with the allegations surrounding him.
Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor’s confidence is reportedly growing
Just a few months ago, Andrew was widely assumed to be spending much of his time at Marsh Farm, where he has been living following his departure from Royal Lodge.
However, sources have painted a different picture of his life away from the royal spotlight, suggesting he has been returning to shooting and socialising with a group of friends known as ‘the old guard’.
The group are reportedly said to view the controversy surrounding his February arrest under suspicion of misconduct in public office as a ‘storm in a teacup’ that will eventually ‘blow over’. Andrew has denied any wrongdoing.
His recent legal victory against Thames Valley Police over raids on his home is also said to have boosted his confidence.
A further insider claimed earlier this week, ‘Something of the old Andrew has returned. The spirit of the grand old Duke of York has been rekindled.’
Now, sources claim he is determined to use that renewed confidence to push for a place at the royal family’s Christmas celebrations.
Camilla, Anne and Edward reportedly urge Charles to show mercy
Although Andrew’s potential return to the family gathering could prove controversial, three senior royals are reportedly urging the King to take a more conciliatory approach.
A source says, ‘Obviously Andrew’s troubles are far from over, he’s still extremely worried about the ongoing case but this latest win has definitely done wonders for his confidence and overall energy levels.
‘Right now, his biggest focus is forcing his way into the fold for Christmas, and it’s not out of the question. Camilla, Anne and Edward have all been telling the King that it would be both kind and prudent to show his brother a little more mercy. But Charles wants him at arm’s length and William is totally opposed to the idea of his disgraced uncle coming anywhere near the family, on Christmas Day of all days.’
The reported disagreement highlights the difficult position facing Charles, who must balance his relationship with his brother against the potential reputational consequences of allowing him to attend the family’s traditional celebrations.
Why keeping Andrew away from Sandringham could prove difficult
One complication for the royal family is Andrew’s current residence.
Marsh Farm is situated on the Sandringham estate in Norfolk, where the Windsors traditionally gather for Christmas. That proximity could make it harder to avoid an awkward encounter if the King decides not to invite his brother.
A source says, ‘It is going to be extremely difficult to keep him away since he’s living less than two miles from where they all spend Christmas every year. It’s actually not out of the realm of possibility that he’ll show up even if he’s not invited and cause some awful scene.’
Andrew has previously attracted attention over his conduct at royal events.
In 2024, he attended a thanksgiving service for the late King Constantine of Greece at St George’s Chapel after both Charles and William were unable to attend. His appearance prompted questions about his standing within the monarchy, leading the Palace to issue a statement clarifying that he was no longer a working royal.
Royal author Robert Hardman has also claimed that Andrew pushed past the Dean at an Easter Sunday service months later to stand behind the King.
Separately, Andrew was reportedly involved in an incident in which his Land Rover struck the gates of Windsor Great Park while he was trying to reach his former home of Royal Lodge, causing thousands of pounds in damage.
The reported history has fuelled concerns among royal insiders that tensions could escalate if Andrew feels he has been deliberately excluded from the family’s Christmas gathering.
Queen Camilla has reportedly softened towards her brother-in-law
Perhaps one of the more unexpected developments is the suggestion that Camilla has become more sympathetic towards Andrew.
Sources have previously claimed that the Queen has acted as a go-between for Charles and his brother, helping to manage communications as the dispute has continued.
It has also been reported that Camilla, Princess Anne and the Duke of Edinburgh have visited Andrew at Marsh Farm to check on his wellbeing.
An insider claims that Camilla now believes excluding Andrew from Christmas could create further problems for the King.
‘Camilla is warning Charles Andrew is a loose cannon who needs to be handled with care. She’s very much of the mind that they ought to keep him close to control him. and has softened a little towards him,’ the insider says.
‘She’s had to speak to him a whole lot more on behalf of Charles, who simply can’t stomach dealing with Andrew right now, and it has made her see a different side of him. She isn’t pushing for him to just be let back into their lives like everything is normal, but she thinks banning him from Christmas could do more harm than good.’
The source suggests the King is facing pressure from other quarters, too, with some courtiers reportedly concerned that refusing his brother an invitation could make him appear unnecessarily harsh.
‘A number of the courtiers are saying the same thing, that he should be invited simply because it risks making the King look harsh if he shuts his brother out on Christmas,’ we’re told. ‘If the King were to decide to allow Andrew to attend the family holiday, he’d have to play nice with him, which would no doubt be difficult since he’s still so furious.’
Prince William reportedly threatens to skip Christmas
While some members of the family are said to favour a more forgiving approach, William is reportedly taking a very different view.
The Prince of Wales is said to be strongly opposed to Andrew attending the Christmas gathering and could consider spending the festive period elsewhere if his father allows his uncle to join them.
‘For William it’s unimaginable that Andrew would attend. He was previously stressing about the possibility of running into Meghan Markle, but now it’s Andrew threatening to ruin the holidays with his mere presence,’ we’re told.
‘He’s threatening to take Kate and the kids away for the holidays if this is approved by his father. He’s vowing to avoid the whole mess if his uncle is going to be there.’
The prospect of William missing the Sandringham celebrations would create another dilemma for Charles, particularly given the importance of the family gathering and the reported strain within the monarchy.
The source added: ‘Of course, it would look terrible if William skipped Christmas when his father is ill, so there is hope Kate could talk him out of taking such a harsh stance, but who knows if she’d even try, since she’s by no means softened towards Andrew, either.’
Could Andrew attend Christmas at Sandringham?
For now, the question of whether Andrew will be invited remains unresolved.
The reported pressure from Camilla, Anne and Edward could give the King reason to reconsider his approach, but Charles is said to remain furious with his brother.
An invitation would also risk reigniting public criticism of the monarchy, while excluding Andrew could deepen tensions within the family.
With Andrew living on the Sandringham estate and William reportedly unwilling to share Christmas with him, the decision could have consequences well beyond one festive gathering.
Whether the King chooses to extend an invitation or maintain his distance, the issue looks set to become another test of the royal family’s ability to manage its most difficult internal disputes.
