Princess Beatrice and Eugenie send a discreet royal message

Christmas Day presented an unexpected royal spectacle when two familiar figures came back into view.

Their presence at Sandringham spoke of alignment, resilience and quiet determination, even though their parents were noticeably absent and controversy continued to swirl in the background.

Despite weeks of speculation that they might sit out the holiday altogether, Princess Beatrice and Eugenie made a surprise appearance at Sandringham on December 25, attending church with senior members of the royal family.

The move comes just weeks after their father, Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor, was stripped of his remaining royal titles and honors by King Charles, a move fueled by renewed scrutiny of his past associations.

Royal watchers expected a difficult choice for the sisters: spend Christmas privately with their parents or accept the king’s invitation to join the extended family. Their decision to take part in the traditional Christmas walk to St. Mary Magdalene Church appears to have resolved this question decisively.

While their parents were excluded from the gathering, Beatrice and Eugenie’s presence marked a visible display of unity with the monarchy at a time when symbolism matters most.

The appearance carried extra weight because it was anything but routine. As the controversy surrounding their family continues to unfold, the sisters’ public alignment with the royal household seemed deliberate, restrained and quietly strategic.

The positioning during the Christmas procession did not go unnoticed.

According to PEOPLE, Princess Eugenie and her husband, Jack Brooksbank, walked directly behind Princess Anne, following closely behind King Charles and Queen Camilla. Their place near the front of the group placed them in full view, smiling as they passed photographers and spectators, even walking in front of the Prince and Princess of Wales and their children.

Princess Beatrice, for her part, appeared with her husband, Edoardo Mapelli Mozzi, at the end of the procession.

Neither sister brought their young children on the walk to church, a detail that added to the sense of intentionality surrounding their appearance.

When the family left the church after the service, Beatrice and Eugenie stood side by side with their husbands, presenting a united front.

The visual was subtle but striking, reinforcing the feeling that the sisters were going through a complicated time together, even though they occupied different physical positions within the royal hierarchy.

The sisters’ appearance at Christmas took place against a backdrop of renewed controversy.

Newly released documents and photographs from the US Department of Justice have resurfaced royal ties to Jeffrey Epstein, including a recently leaked image showing Andrew inside the Sandringham House living room with several women, their identities redacted, and Ghislaine Maxwell also visible.

At the same time, this festive period marks the last Christmas for Andrew and Sarah Ferguson at Royal Lodge, the long-standing family home in which Beatrice and Eugenie grew up.

The couple was ordered to vacate the residence by January 31, adding emotional strain to an already tense time.

Last Christmas was very different for the sisters. Princess Eugenie celebrated the event privately in 2023, while Princess Beatrice only joined the royal family after changing her plans due to late medical advice during her pregnancy with her daughter Athena, who was born prematurely the following month.

In 2024, Andrew and Sarah spent the holidays quietly following backlash over his links to an alleged Chinese “spy”.

In relation to this story, Beatrice and Eugenie’s decision to walk at Sandringham this year represented a notable change.

In the weeks leading up to Christmas, the sisters’ absence from Kate Middleton’s annual carol service sparked new questions. Both had attended the event in previous years, although reports indicate that although they were invited earlier in the fall, scheduling conflicts prevented their participation this time around.

Princess Eugenie later addressed the absence directly on Instagram Stories, writing: “I wish Bea and I could celebrate tonight with our family.” She added: “Wishing @princeandprincessofwales such a special evening at her incredible Christmas carol service. What an incredible message of love and hope.”

The sisters were seen again on December 16 at the royal family’s Christmas lunch at Buckingham Palace, once again without their parents. The same day, Andrew was photographed riding a horse in Windsor Park, miles away, highlighting the growing physical and symbolic distance between him and official royal events.

A few days earlier, on December 12, Beatrice, Eugenie and their parents gathered privately for baby Athena’s christening, one of the first family events they had attended together since Andrew’s title was stripped in late October.