Princess Beatrice Skips Royal Christmas Gatherings

Princess Beatrice has chosen to spend Christmas abroad with her husband and friends, opting out of gatherings with either her father, Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor, or the rest of the royal family at Sandringham Estate. The 37-year-old princess, who received invitations to both events, made the decision amid ongoing fallout from her father's ties to Jeffrey Epstein, according to sources close to the family.

Beatrice, daughter of Andrew and Sarah Ferguson, faces a delicate balance between loyalties as her parents prepare to vacate Royal Lodge, their Windsor home, following the removal of Andrew's royal titles in October. The family has one year to relocate, though the process may extend longer due to logistical challenges. King Charles is funding Andrew's transition, including a potential new residence on the Sandringham estate.

Sources indicate Beatrice declined the invitations to avoid any perception of favoritism or awkwardness. She attended a pre-Christmas family lunch at Buckingham Palace last week alongside her sister, Princess Eugenie, but without their parents. "She was torn between loyalty to the King and her parents," one friend said. "She didn't want it to look like they...