A previous high-profile member of the royal family was left off the guest list.
It’s been just over a week since the Princess of Wales held her annual Carol service, but onlookers are only now noticing that one frequent participant was missing from the guest list.
It turns out that the individual in question, who was formerly considered a high-profile member of the monarchy before getting entangled in a headline-grabbing global controversy, did not receive an invitation from Kate, despite King Charles vouching for them.
For those out of the loop with the royal occasion, 42-year-old Kate Middleton welcomed thousands of celebrants into Westminster Abbey last week for the annual carol service she hosts each year, which is broadcast on ITV in the run-up to Christmas.
The Waleses, accompanied by spouse Prince William and their children Princes George and Louis, as well as Princess Charlotte, were spotted seated in the front row, just in front of Lady Rose Gilman and George.
Though King Charles III and Queen Camilla stayed at home, both recovering from recent health issues, and Prince Harry and Meghan Markle remained in the United States, a large number of other members of the institution attended the special event.
They included Princess Anne’s daughter Zara Tindall and her children, Prince Edward’s wife Sophie Wessex, Duchess of Edinburgh, and Princess Beatrice.
According to reports, an additional 22 lesser royals were also in attendance.
The disgraced Prince Andrew, who had previously been a confirmed attendance, was noticeably absent from the festivities.
According to royal columnist Ephraim Hardcastle, Kate was fully aware of her decision not to invite him.
Hardcastle began by stating that, while Charles may have invited Andrew to spend Christmas with him and Camilla at Sandringham this year, the Wales’ are keeping their distance.
“William and Kate aren’t sharing the love,” he penned.
“A mole whispers that for the second year running, suggestions that Andrew be invited to Kate’s annual carol service, possibly seated behind a pillar, were rejected.”
The royal expert added: “Although very much a family affair… there was no space for Uncle Andy.”
Prince Andrew resigned from his formal duties in May 2020 amid an inquiry into his involvement with convicted s.e.x offender Jeffrey Epstein, during which the royal father-of-two was also accused of s3xually assaulting Virginia Giuffre as a minor.
As a result, Andrew was stripped of his royal and military titles and has since remained on the periphery of the royal family.
Last week’s exclusion would not be the first time William and Kate attempted to stymie Charles’ efforts to lay the scandal surrounding Andrew’s antics to rest, with Hardcastle alleging he attempted the same approach in 2023.
“Last year, the King tried to get W&K to bury the hatchet during a gathering at Balmoral, where he cajoled them into giving Andrew a lift to church so the trio could be photographed together,” he wrote.
“The initiative failed.”
