Photo: Joe Giddens/PA Images via Getty
Just weeks after “stepping back” from royal duties following the backlash of his interview surrounding his relationship with Jeffrey Epstein,Prince Andrewjoined his family for their annual church outing on Christmas — but kept his appearance under the radar.
St. Mary Magdalene has two services every Christmas (9 a.m. and 11 a.m.). While a few royals sometimes attend the earlier service, the 11 a.m. service is the main attraction. Andrew likely attended the earlier event to avoid attention amid controversy surrounding his association with convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein.
Princess Beatrice, Princess Eugenie and Prince Andrew at Christmas 1997.UK Press via Getty
Andrew is a regular at the traditional holiday outing, often bringing daughters Princess Beatrice andPrincess Eugeniealong as they grew up.
Last week, Prince Andrew was one of the first royal family members to arrive atQueen Elizabeth’s annualChristmas lunch at Buckingham Palace. However, he skipped daughterPrincess Beatrice‘s Londonengagement partythat evening.
The fallout fromAndrew’s disastrous BBC interviewabout his friendship with convicted sex offender Epstein saw his official royal role collapse to almost nothing in a matter of days. He was removed from his hundreds of charitable patronages and his office was forced out of Buckingham Palace.
The decision “shows that the royals can move very swiftly and very ruthlessly,” royal historian Robert Lacey tells PEOPLE.
Prince Andrew.Chris Jackson/- WPA Pool/Getty
While Prince Andrew will not perform any more public duties as a member of the royal family, sources told PEOPLE thatnot much else would change.
“He remains a member of the royal family,” a royal source said. “As a royal colonel and a war veteran, you can expect to see him at Remembrance Sunday. You can expect to see him on the balcony at Trooping the Colour too.”
BBC/Mark Harrison
Can’t get enough ofPEOPLE‘s Royals coverage?Sign up for our free Royals newsletterto get the latest updates onKate Middleton,Meghan Markleand more!
The 59-year-old royal will likely retain his title as the Duke of York and keep his place in the line of succession to the throne, which is currently eighth behind Prince Harry andMeghan Markle‘s 7-month-old son, Archie. Many family members in the line of succession are not “working” royals, such as Princess Anne’s children, Peter Phillips and Zara Tindall.
source: people.com
