Under the shadow of scandal and public scrutiny, the British royal family gathered for the traditional Easter service at Windsor’s St. George’s Chapel on April 5, 2026. The event, typically a display of unity and tradition, was notable this year for the conspicuous absence of Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor, formerly the Duke of York, and his immediate family. The absence, following Andrew’s recent arrest and mounting controversies, has left both the monarchy and the public grappling with questions about the family’s future and the boundaries of royal association.
King Charles III and Queen Camilla arrived by car, greeted by a crowd outside Windsor Castle and a call of “God save the King.” They were joined by senior royals, including the Prince and Princess of Wales and their three children—Prince George, Princess Charlotte, and Prince Louis—who led the procession into the 15th-century chapel. The family’s sartorial choices were as traditional as the occasion itself: Princess Charlotte wore a tan coat, Kate donned an off-white skirt and leafy hat, and the men wore dark blue suits. Queen Camilla wore a striking red wool dress and coat by Fiona Clare, topped with a Phillip Treacy hat and a brooch that once belonged to Queen Elizabeth II, according to BBC and PEOPLE.
But the focus of the day was not on fashion or tradition. It was the first major public family outing since Andrew’s arrest in February 2026, and his absence—along with that of his ex-wife Sarah Ferguson and their daughters, Princess Beatrice and Princess Eugenie—spoke volumes. Last year, Andrew and Ferguson had attended the Easter service. This year, the pair kept a low profile, with their daughters making alternative plans for the holiday with the agreement of King Charles, as reported by AFP and PEOPLE.
Andrew’s fall from grace has been both swift and public. In October 2025, King Charles stripped his brother of all royal titles and the right to be called a prince, a move that followed renewed scrutiny over Andrew’s relationship with the late Jeffrey Epstein. The scrutiny intensified after the publication of Virginia Giuffre’s posthumous memoir, in which she alleged sexual misconduct by Andrew—allegations he continues to deny. The U.S. Department of Justice’s release of more than three million pages of Epstein-related documents in January 2026 shed further light on Andrew’s continued communication with Epstein and Sarah Ferguson after Epstein’s conviction, though appearing in the documents is not itself evidence of wrongdoing, according to PEOPLE and AFP.
Andrew’s arrest on February 19, 2026—his 66th birthday—was on suspicion of misconduct in public office. Police are investigating claims that he shared confidential government information with Epstein during his tenure as the UK’s trade envoy from 2001 to 2011. After hours of questioning, Andrew remains under police caution, though he has not been charged. Prosecutors told AFP, “We can now also confirm that we are providing early investigative advice to Thames Valley Police in relation to Mountbatten-Windsor.”
The fallout has extended beyond Andrew himself. In the wake of his arrest and the publication of incriminating emails, Andrew was forced to leave his longtime home, the Royal Lodge in Windsor, after a public backlash over his favorable rent agreement—a peppercorn rent he had paid since 2003. He relocated to Marsh Farm on the Sandringham Estate, where he was photographed walking his dogs on March 22, 2026. Temporarily staying at Wood Farm while his new residence was being prepared, Andrew was visited by his brother Prince Edward, who had a “quiet word” with him about his reluctance to move out, according to The Sun and 9Honey.
Prince Edward’s visit was the first by a royal family member since Andrew’s arrest, and it may not have been entirely cordial. “Andrew has been dragging his heels. He could have moved by now, but has been reluctant. Edward has had a quiet word with his brother,” a source told The Sun. Notably, neither Andrew’s daughters nor Sarah Ferguson have visited him since he left Royal Lodge. King Charles, meanwhile, stayed at a nearby residence for a week in March, but did not visit his brother. Prince William and Catherine, Princess of Wales, spent Easter at Amner Hall, also close by, but chose not to visit Andrew either.
For Beatrice and Eugenie, the repercussions have been deeply personal. While both retain their princess titles, they are not active members of the royal family. Historically close to Prince William and Prince Harry, they attended the family’s Christmas church service in December 2025 without their parents. However, royal sources confirmed to AFP that the sisters would not be at Windsor for Easter this year, and reports indicate they will also miss Royal Ascot in June. “They want to avoid any association with them, as the York brand has become toxic,” royal expert Richard Fitzwilliams told AFP. Another insider noted, “Beatrice has taken it the hardest. She’s been completely blindsided by all of this.”
Emails released in January 2026 revealed not only Andrew’s ongoing communication with Epstein but also ties between Epstein and Sarah Ferguson. The princesses’ names appeared in numerous emails, though there is no suggestion of wrongdoing by them. Still, royal experts and biographers have raised concerns about their proximity to the scandal. Andrew Lownie, author of a biography on Andrew, argued, “This was a family business. The girls were taken on these taxpayer-funded trips. They’ve built up a very useful contact book which they are exploiting to this day.” Ed Owens, another royal historian, warned that their “hybrid status—one foot in the monarchy, one foot out—endangers the entire Windsor family.”
Both Beatrice and Eugenie have successful careers outside the royal fold. Beatrice served as vice president of strategic partnerships at Afiniti, an AI technology company, and has since launched her own advisory group. Eugenie is a director at the Hauser & Wirth contemporary art gallery in London, though she recently stepped down as a patron of the Anti-Slavery International charity. Despite their professional achievements, the sisters now face increasing scrutiny, with experts warning that “hard questions will need to be asked” about their involvement in the so-called “elite network” surrounding Epstein.
Meanwhile, the royal family pressed on with its public duties. On April 2, King Charles and Queen Camilla attended the Royal Maundy service in Wales, where the King distributed Maundy money to 77 men and 77 women in recognition of their Christian service. The event, commemorating the Last Supper, was marred only briefly by graffiti reading “Not Our King,” which workers cleaned before the royal arrival.
The Easter service, usually a moment of unity, instead highlighted the fractures within the House of Windsor. With Andrew’s future uncertain and his family’s standing in question, the monarchy faces tough choices about how to balance tradition, accountability, and the ever-watchful gaze of the public.