This year, the York sisters’ Christmas plans are in tatters as they will likely have to spend Christmas apart from each other, and from their parents Prince Andrew and Sarah Ferguson. The whole York family are trapped in Tier 4 amid the Government’s new coronavirus restrictions on the south east of England. Princess Eugenie, 30, who recently moved into Frogmore Cottage and is expecting a baby in the new year, is very close with her sister Beatrice, 32, who recently married her beau Edo Mapelli Mozzi.
The royal sisters likely wanted to celebrate these latest developments with each other at the end of a year that has been challenging for everybody.
They may have hoped to spend Christmas at the Royal Lodge in Great Windsor Park with their parents but, like so many family gatherings, will have had to cancel the joint festivities.
However, in the past, Beatrice and Eugenie have actually snubbed one family gathering at Christmas to jet set to the Carribean for a wedding.
Traditionally, the Queen holds a huge pre-Christmas lunch at Buckingham Palace before she heads to Sandringham.
READ MORE: Princess Beatrice ‘bent royal Christmas rules’ for husband Edo
However, on Kate Middleton’s first Christmas with the royals, the York sisters ducked out of this occasion.
They were officially excused by the Queen so they could attend the wedding of Richard Branson’s daughter in the Carribean.
Holly Branson, who is good friends with Beatrice and Eugenie, got married on the family’s private island, Necker Island on December 20, 2011, the same place where her father had got married 22 years before.
This was just months after a devastating fire on the island.
Mike’s “unacceptable” drunken antics involving a former girlfriend and a “dwarf-racing” contest in a bar in Queenstown resulted in him being thrown out of the England rugby squad and fined £25,000 by the Rugby Football Union.
However, one royal insider said: “The trouble is he’s bullet-proof and he knows it.
“William and Harry adore him. He seems to have got out of the incident scot-free and Zara loves him as much as ever.
Amid Beatrice and Eugenie’s absence and Mike’s scandal, the person shining a light in Christmas 2011 was Camilla, Duchess of Cornwall, who was finding her feet within the Royal Family.
One insider claimed: “She has become the linchpin of the Windsors. Kate also goes to her for advice.”
This year, however, the Royal Family will not be gathering for this Christmas lunch at Buckingham Palace, nor travelling to Sandringham in Norfolk.
The Queen cancelled the Sandringham Christmas weeks ago, and will be staying in Windsor Castle, where she will celebrate quietly with Prince Philip.
Many of the other royals are now trapped in tier 4 and will be spending the holiday away from loved ones, as are many people in the country.
Prime Minister Boris Johnson announced on Saturday that new measures were being brought in to contain the spread of a new strain of coronavirus.
