Princess Kate is reportedly set to exclude Prince Andrew from her annual Christmas Carol Service for the second consecutive year, as tensions surrounding the Duke of York's lingering association with Jeffrey Epstein continue to cast a shadow over the royal family.
According to sources cited by RadarOnline, the Princess of Wales has been "deeply upset" by the renewed controversy linking her husband's uncle to Epstein through Virginia Giuffre's posthumous memoir Nobody's Girl. "Kate's both devastated and angry," a family insider told the outlet. "She feels let down after spending years helping to rebuild public faith in the royals, only for Andrew's actions to undo so much of that progress. She's adamant this has to stop now - she won't let it stain the future for her children."
The decision underscores growing distance between the Prince and Princess of Wales and Andrew, who has been largely sidelined from public royal life since 2019. While Andrew has not faced criminal charges, his name's repeated mention in court filings and media coverage surrounding Epstein's network has fueled public outrage and internal strain within the monarchy.
Sources close to the princess said the controversy has hit particularly hard this year as she continues to recover from major abdominal surgery and cancer treatment. "She's concentrating on her recovery, body and mind," one insider said. "That's why all the upheaval around Andrew feels unbearable to her. She's doing her best to stay centered for her children and William, but this constant drama makes it incredibly hard."
Prince William reportedly shares his wife's frustration. "William and Kate are completely aligned on this," a senior royal aide told RadarOnline. "They've told the King that things have to change - the monarchy needs to move forward without favoritism or fresh controversy. In their view, Andrew and Sarah staying at Royal Lodge just keeps the family stuck in old scandals."
The pair's stance has led to speculation that Andrew will once again be left off the invitation list for the televised royal carol concert held at Westminster Abbey, an event curated by the Princess of Wales each December. The program, which highlights charitable initiatives and includes performances from prominent choirs and musicians, has become one of the royal family's most visible seasonal traditions.
Last year's event notably excluded Prince Andrew despite his father, King Charles III, reportedly urging William and Kate to include him for the sake of "unity." A source told The Daily Mail that the King even suggested his younger brother ride with the couple to church so that the royal family could be photographed together. The Waleses refused, and Andrew remained absent from both the church service and the carol broadcast.
