Prince Andrew and Sarah Ferguson ‘aren’t welcome’ at royal Christmas amid Epstein scandal

The King, 76, is keen for the pair to avoid the annual knees-up at the Sandringham Estate in Norfolk say royal sources as the row over Epstein deepens divides

Shamed Prince Andrew and Sarah Ferguson aren’t welcome at the Royal Family’s Christmas bash following the Jeffrey Epstein scandal, sources close to The King claimed.

The monarch, 76, is said to be keen for the pair to avoid the annual knees-up at the Sandringham Estate in Norfolk. It comes after damning emails showed the Duchess of York, 65, stayed in contact with the late paedophile Epstein, describing him as a “supreme friend”, after publicly slamming him in 2011.

And royal insiders say Charles would prefer the couple, who divorced in 1996, to be “invisible” at future family dos by arriving and scarpering through secret entrances. Andrew stayed away last Christmas following reports linking him to an alleged Chinese spy.

A source close to the King said: “You can’t sack someone from being your brother. But this year, if the duke and duchess were both to be as honourable [as last year], it would be for the best and the family would not be disappointed, not least to avoid the King having to make any more difficult decisions.”

Meanwhile, friends of Fergie said she was “devastated for any embarrassment” caused and would “explain herself to the wider royal family in due course”.

Another pal of Charles said: “The King is not of the mind to banish someone [from] attending family occasions like a funeral. But he would hope they would find a more discreet way of attending . The Duke of York seems to relish the prospect of not being low-key.”

Last week a spokesman for the duchess said she sent the email to Epstein because the tycoon said he would “destroy the York family” and threatened to take legal action against her. Elsewhere, Andrew, 65, and Fergie’s daughter Princess Beatrice, 37, is said to have “lost all hope” of becoming a working royal over the scandal.

A source close to her said: “She’s never put a foot wrong, don’t forget – and she shouldn’t be punished for the sins of her father. But the King’s courtiers are concerned Andrew could try to ‘get in via the back door’ by exerting influence over her.”