King Charles's annual pre-Christmas lunch has been the talk of the town on Thursday, Dec. 19 after numerous members of the Royal Family backed out of the event, including Prince William, Princess Kate and their kids. And although Prince Andrew also wasn't there, his daughters Princess Beatrice and Princess Eugenie represented the York family amid their father's latest scandal.
Princess Eugenie was photographed driving with husband Jack Brooksbank as they headed to Buckingham Palace on Thursday, with the royal wearing a black coat and the same Sophie Lis diamond starburst earrings owned by Meghan Markle. Meanwhile, Princess Beatrice rode separately with her husband, Edoardo Mapelli Mozzi, bundled up in a black coat with a peek of ruffled navy collar visible underneath.
The sisters joined roughly 70 members of the Royal Family at the event, including King Charles, Queen Camilla, Duchess Sophie, Prince Edward and plenty of extended cousins. Their mother, Sarah Ferguson, is said to have been instrumental in convincing the Duke of York to stay home from the Christmas luncheon.
Princess Beatrice attended with her husband, Edoardo Mapelli Mozzi.
Jack Brooksbank drove Eugenie to Buckingham Palace.
According to multiple reports, Prince Andrew had been planning on attending the festive party until early this week, when he opted to stay at Royal Lodge. The duke had been friends and business associates with Yango Tengbo, an alleged Chinese spy who had been included in Andrew's Pitch@Palace entrepreneurial initiative.
Prince Andrew and Ferguson also backed out of attending the Royal Family's Christmas gathering at Sandringham, and their daughters will be spending Christmas with their respective in-laws. However, one royal expert suggested that Andrew and Fergie will likely join in the holiday celebrations with at least one of their daughters.
"Somehow or other, I think that Fergie and Andrew will be with Beatrice, Edo and the kids, either at Royal Lodge or the in-laws," Ingrid Seward, editor-in-chief of Majesty magazine told the Telegraph, adding, Beatrice "is very close to her father and will want to support him and be with him at this time."
As for Prince William, Princess Kate and their kids, they've made an early escape to Norfolk, choosing to spend quiet time at their country home, Anmer Hall, ahead of the busy royal Christmas period.
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