Prince Andrew made a surprise appearance as the royal family enjoyed their annual Christmas walk around Sandringham – but a royal expert has insisted he will “never be the working king he once was”.
The Duke of York, 62, walked behind senior royals as crowds lined the road outside Sandringham Church for the traditional Christmas Day service at the Norfolk estate.
King Charles was joined at the head of the group by Camilla, the Queen Consort, while the Waleses walked just behind them alongside their three children, George, Charlotte and Louis.
Also in attendance were Andrew’s daughters Beatrice and Eugenie and their husbands Edoardo Mapelli Mozzi and Jack Brooksbank.
Prince Andrew, Duke of York attends the Christmas service at Sandringham Church
The disgraced Duke waves to the crowds that lined the street to catch a glimpse of the royals on their traditional stroll
Andrew’s invitation to the service was seen by some as a potential olive branch for the disgraced duke.
But royal commentator Richard Fitzwilliams said his appearance is unlikely to mean a return.
He told Web: “Andrew’s appearance at St Mary Magdalene Church in Sandringham comes a day after it was reported he is now not permitted to have an office at Buckingham Palace, retain small staff or use it as an address to use.
“He’s clearly on his own and able to recruit his own team while he fights for his rehabilitation.
“He’s still a member of the royal family, hence his looks. However, he is not and never will be a senior working king like he once was. King Charles made this clear.
“He was also reportedly recently stripped of his taxpayer-funded security detail. The Queen Consort now holds the post of Colonel of the Grenadier Guards, inherited from his father, Prince Philip.
“His ratings are at rock bottom and public appearances for him are poison for the royal family. His banishment from the palace makes that clear enough.”
Another royal biographer said Charles wanted to make a name for himself by emphasizing “tolerance and family harmony” in the wake of Harry and Meghan’s hit Netflix series.
The Sussexes were not present for the walk today, nor were they mentioned in the King’s speech.
“Charles has invited the Duchess of York for the first time since her divorce from Prince Andrew,” said Sally Bedell Smith.
“The Duke of Edinburgh was the main obstacle to Fergie’s admission and the Queen had arranged for Fergie to remain close to Wood Farm so that she could see her daughters Beatrice and Eugenie at Sandringham after the celebrations.”
King Charles was joined at the head of the group by Camilla, the Queen Consort, while the Waleses walked just behind them alongside their three children, George, Charlotte and Louis
The Waleses arrive early for Christmas service at Sandringham. Pictured left to right: Catherine, Princess of Wales; Princess Charlotte; Prince George; Prince William
Princess Eugenie and Jack Brooksbank pictured going to the traditional Christmas Day service
Princess Beatrice smiles with her husband Edoardo Mapelli Mozzi and their stepson Christopher at Sandringham this morning
The Duke outside Sandringham Church with senior royals during the traditional Christmas walking tour
Andrew speaks outside St Mary Magdalene Church in Sandringham as he joins other royals
It comes after King Charles Andrew said he was “on his own” following the scandal surrounding his links with late pedophile financier Jeffery Epstein, a source has claimed.
According to a new report in The Sun, the Duke of York has been told to stop using Buckingham Palace as his office space, effectively severing his last tie to his old life as a working royal.
“Any presence at the palace has officially ended,” a source was quoted as saying. “The king made it clear. He’s not a working king. He’s on his own.’
As part of the King’s decision, Andrew, 62, will not be able to use the address for future correspondence. The emergency worker, who had been retained since retiring from public service three years ago, is now reportedly at risk of being fired.
The report comes after Queen Consort Camilla was announced to replace the disgraced Duke as Colonel in the Grenadier Guards in a reshuffle of senior royal military positions.
The shuffle will also result in the Princess of Wales being promoted to her first role in the Army, taking over from her husband as a Colonel in the Irish Guards.
Prince William becomes Colonel in the Welsh Guards instead.
Andrew inherited the position of Colonel in the Grenadier Guards from his late father, the Duke of Edinburgh when he retired from public life in 2017.
King Charles III laughs as he welcomes the public to Sandringham on Christmas Day, meeting them for the first time as a monarch as he attends Sandringham church service
He was forced by the Queen to step down from official royal duties after his disastrous BBC Newsnight interview in 2019.
By this year he had retained 10 military affiliations, including Colonel in the Grenadier Guards, while working to clear his name amid the scandal surrounding his association with US pedophile Jeffery Epstein.
He was finally stripped of his ceremonial title earlier this year after deciding to settle a civil lawsuit involving one of Epstein’s victims, Virginia Giuffre, who had also accused him of the assault.
A deal was agreed last year which is believed to be worth around $12million (£9.8million). He has consistently denied any wrongdoing.
Earlier this year, the Duke of York was “deprived” and “tearful” when Charles told him in no uncertain terms that his days as working king were over.
At the time, a source told the Mail on Sunday “Andrew was completely blind” and “completely bereft”. He always believed there was a way back.