Princess Beatrice and Princess Eugenie were conspicuous by their absence at Kate Middleton's Christmas Carol service on Friday, sparking debate about the reasons which might have led them to skip the high-profile event.
Speaking to Fox News last month, royal commentator Neil Sean had claimed that Kate Middleton extended personal invitations in a deliberate effort to present a united family front in light of Andrew Mountbatten Windsor’s recent scandal which cost him his remaining royal titles.
While the claim could not be confirmed independently, Princess Eugenie seemed to lent it credence through a social media post after the carol service on Friday.
"Wish Bea and I could have been celebrating tonight with our family,” she wrote, referring to her elder sister Princess Beatrice"
Although she did not reveal the exact reason behind their absence, some observers believe their decision might have been due to their desire to keep a low profile owing to intense media scrutiny after their father Andrew lost his remaining titles over his links to former sex offender Jeffrey Epstein.
The daughters of Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor and Sarah Ferguson continue to keep their royal titles while their mother has lost her Duchess of York title.
The Princess of Wales, hosted an annual Christmas carol concert at Westminster Abbey on Friday to honour guests who had mostly been invited for service to the community, joined by her husband and heir to the throne Prince William.
The event, which the princess launched, is now in its fifth year, offering the royal family a chance to thank people across Britain for volunteering, raising funds for charity and supporting the vulnerable.
