Marie Claire
  • Celebrity
  • Fashion
  • Beauty
  • Culture
  • Power
  • Nice Talk
  • Style at Large
  • More
    • Politics
    • Career & Money
    • Health & Fitness
    • Power Play
    • Travel
    • Promo Codes
    • Food & Cocktails
    • About Us
    • Subscribe
    • Sex & Love
  • Newsletter SIGN UP TO OUR NEWSLETTER
  • Marie Claire
    Marie Claire Newsletter

    Celebrity news, beauty, fashion advice, and fascinating features, delivered straight to your inbox!


    By submitting your information you agree to the Terms & Conditions and Privacy Policy and are aged 16 or over.

    You are now subscribed

    Your newsletter sign-up was successful


    Want to add more newsletters?

    Marie Claire Daily

    Delivered daily

    Marie Claire Daily

    Get exclusive access to fashion and beauty trends, hot-off-the-press celebrity news, and more.

    Marie Claire Self Checkout

    Sent weekly on Saturday

    Marie Claire Self Checkout

    Exclusive access to expert shopping and styling advice from Nikki Ogunnaike, Marie Claire's editor-in-chief.

    Maire Claire Face Forward

    Once a week

    Maire Claire Face Forward

    Insider tips and recommendations for skin, hair, makeup, nails and more from Hannah Baxter, Marie Claire's beauty director.

    Livingetc

    Once a week

    Livingetc

    Your shortcut to the now and the next in contemporary home decoration, from designing a fashion-forward kitchen to decoding color schemes, and the latest interiors trends.

    Homes & Gardens

    Delivered Daily

    Homes & Gardens

    The ultimate interior design resource from the world's leading experts - discover inspiring decorating ideas, color scheming know-how, garden inspiration and shopping expertise.


    An account already exists for this email address, please log in.
    Trending
    • Freaky, Furry Flip-Flops
    • October Books
    • 2026 Beauty Awards
    • Janine Nabers
    • Purple Nails
    • ‘Sense and Sensibility’
    1. Celebrity
    2. Royals

    Royal Expert Says Ex-Prince Andrew Has "Soiled" the Royal Family's Christmas Celebrations With His "Debauched" and "Tawdry" Display

    "It is not just haunting but sordid."

    Amy Mackelden's avatar
    By Amy Mackelden
    Published 22 December 2025 In News

    When you purchase through links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission. Here’s how it works.

    The former Prince Andrew wears a black suit with a white tie and has white gray hair and appears to be pursing his lips
    (Image credit: ADRIAN DENNIS/AFP via Getty Images)
    • Facebook
    • X
    • Pinterest
    Share this article
    Join the conversation
    Follow us
    Add us as a preferred source on Google
    Subscribe to our newsletter

    Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor reportedly won't be attending the Royal Family's annual Christmas celebration at Sandringham. But according to a royal expert, the former prince has "soiled" King Charles's festive period due to his involvement in further "debauched" revelations.

    Last week, more photos from the Jeffrey Epstein files were released, and the ex-Duke of York featured in several previously unseen pictures. One of the photos showed the former prince posing across a group of several women—their identities redacted—on a couch in the main house on the Sandringham estate. Epstein associate Ghislaine Maxwell could be seen standing behind the group and smiling.

    Writing for the Daily Mail, royal expert Richard Kay shared, "The tawdry picture of Andrew in the Epstein files...will cast a dark cloud over the Royal Family's Christmas. He has invaded their privacy and soiled their celebrations."

    Latest Videos FromMarie Claire
    Watch full video here:

    Kay called the photo a "grotesque postscript to Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor's former royal life," noting that "the tawdry image" was "taken at Sandringham—where he is no longer welcome." According to the expert, it is another "indelible reminder of Andrew's stratospheric fall from grace," and "for the Royal Family it is not just haunting but sordid."

    Sandringham Estate

    "The tawdry image" was "taken at Sandringham—where he is no longer welcome."

    (Image credit: Getty Images)

    Somehow managing to make matters even worse, Kay noted that the new photo of Andrew could be seen as "an invasion of [the Royal Family's] cherished privacy, taken in the very room where they will gather this week to mark Christmas."

    You may like
    • Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor wearing a suit and tie and scowling Former Prince Andrew's Friend Says He Thinks His Name Will Be Cleared
    • LONDON, ENGLAND - SEPTEMBER 16: Prince Andrew, Duke of York and Sarah Ferguson, Duchess of York attend the funeral of Katharine, Duchess of Kent at Westminster Cathedral on September 16, 2025 in London, England. Katharine, Duchess of Kent was married Prince Edward, Duke of Kent, the first cousin of Queen Elizabeth II. She died on September 4 at the age of 92 at Kensington Palace surrounded by her family. Having converted to Catholicism in 1994, her funeral takes place at Westminster Cathedral and is the first Catholic funeral to be held for a member of the royal family in modern British history. Her Royal Highness will be laid to rest at the Royal Burial Ground at Frogmore, Windsor. (Photo by Mark Cuthbert/UK Press via Getty Images) Sarah Ferguson Is "Not Welcome" at Former Prince Andrew's New Home
    • The exterior of Royal Lodge Royal Lodge Is Up For Rent After Royal Family Refuses to Move In

    The royal expert also highlighted that the picture was captured "in the baronial drawing room, known as the Saloon." He described the location as "an intimate inner sanctum where the family traditionally gathers for afternoon tea on Christmas Eve and again on Christmas Day to watch Charles's televised message." Basically, Andrew's latest association with Epstein appears to have occurred in one of the Royal Family's most sacred spaces.

    Prince Andrew wearing a gray coat

    "He has invaded their privacy and soiled their celebrations."

    (Image credit: Getty Images)

    Kay confirmed that "Andrew has been banished from the gathering" in 2025, following his demotion and the removal of his royal titles.

    Marie Claire Newsletter

    Celebrity news, beauty, fashion advice, and fascinating features, delivered straight to your inbox!

    By submitting your information you agree to the Terms & Conditions and Privacy Policy and are aged 16 or over.

    According to the outlet, the former Duke of York previously claimed that Epstein and Maxwell visited Sandringham for a "shooting weekend." The latest photographic evidence will surely pose more questions than answers, however.

    Explore More
    Prince Andrew Sandringham King Charles
    Amy Mackelden
    Amy Mackelden
    Social Links Navigation
    Weekend Editor

    Amy Mackelden is the weekend editor at Marie Claire, where she covers celebrity and royal family news. She was the weekend editor at Harper’s BAZAAR for three years, where she covered breaking celebrity and entertainment news, royal stories, fashion, beauty, and politics. Prior to that, she spent a year as the joint weekend editor for Marie Claire, ELLE, and Harper's BAZAAR, and two years as an entertainment writer at Bustle. Her additional bylines include Cosmopolitan, People, The Independent, HelloGiggles, Biography, Shondaland, Best Products, New Statesman, Heat, and The Guardian. Her work has been syndicated by publications including Town & Country, Good Housekeeping, Esquire, Delish, Oprah Daily, Country Living, and Women's Health. Her celebrity interviews include Jennifer Aniston, Jessica Chastain, the cast of Selling Sunset, Emma Thompson, Jessica Alba, and Penn Badgley. In 2015, she delivered an academic paper at Kimposium, the world's first Kardashian conference.

    Read more
    LONDON, ENGLAND - SEPTEMBER 16: Prince Andrew, Duke of York and Sarah Ferguson, Duchess of York attend the funeral of Katharine, Duchess of Kent at Westminster Cathedral on September 16, 2025 in London, England. Katharine, Duchess of Kent was married Prince Edward, Duke of Kent, the first cousin of Queen Elizabeth II. She died on September 4 at the age of 92 at Kensington Palace surrounded by her family. Having converted to Catholicism in 1994, her funeral takes place at Westminster Cathedral and is the first Catholic funeral to be held for a member of the royal family in modern British history. Her Royal Highness will be laid to rest at the Royal Burial Ground at Frogmore, Windsor. (Photo by Mark Cuthbert/UK Press via Getty Images)
    Royals Sarah Ferguson Is "Not Welcome" at Former Prince Andrew's New Home
    By Kristin Contino
    Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor wearing a suit and tie and scowling
    Royals Former Prince Andrew's Friend Says He Thinks His Name Will Be Cleared
    By Kristin Contino
     
     
    Prince Harry and Meghan Markle at Christmas
    Royals Meghan and Harry Will Focus on One Relative This Christmas
    By Amy Mackelden
    Prince Harry, Duke of Sussex, has red hair and a short beard and wears a suit and tie and attends the Kyiv Security Forum, in Kyiv on April 23, 2026
    Royals Prince Harry Refuses to "Pull Focus From the Royal Family"
    By Amy Mackelden
     
     
    Latest in Royals
    Queen Letizia wearing a black dress and clapping
    Royals Queen Letizia Pairs an Edgy Cut-Out Gown with a Bracelet From Her Pre-Royal Days
    Princess Beatrice, Princess Eugenie and Sarah Ferguson wearing black dresses on a red carpet
    Royals Princess Beatrice, Princess Eugenie and Sarah Ferguson are No Longer a "Tripod"
     
     
    Prince Harry meeting fans with his arm around Meghan
    Royals Harry and Meghan's Latest Event Feels "At Odds" With Security Fears, Says Editor
    Princess Kate wearing a fair isle sweater and smiling
    Royals Princess Kate Made a Secret Appearance in an Editor-Approved Me+Em Sweater
     
     
    Latest in News
    Dakota Johnson wore an oversized graphic tee with brown corduroy jeans and a Valentino bag
    Celebrity Style Corduroy Bottoms Are Back—and Already Replacing Dakota Johnson's Go-To Jeans
    Queen Letizia wearing a black dress and clapping
    Royals Queen Letizia Pairs an Edgy Cut-Out Gown with a Bracelet From Her Pre-Royal Days
     
     
    Keri Russell as Kate Wyler and Rufus Sewell as Hal Wyler in 'The Diplomat' season 4.
    TV shows 'The Diplomat' Season 4 Ends With Several Major Twists—Here's Your Breakdown
    Princess Beatrice, Princess Eugenie and Sarah Ferguson wearing black dresses on a red carpet
    Royals Princess Beatrice, Princess Eugenie and Sarah Ferguson are No Longer a "Tripod"
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
    Marie Claire
    RSS
    • About us
    • Contact Future's experts
    • Contact us
    • Advertise Online
    • Newsletter
    • Terms and conditions
    • Privacy policy
    • Cookies policy
    • Careers
    Add as a preferred source on Google Add as a preferred source on Google

    Marie Claire is part of Future US Inc, an international media group and leading digital publisher. Visit our corporate site.

    © Future US, Inc. Full 7th Floor, 130 West 42nd Street, New York, NY 10036.