Prince Andrew, 65, joined his royal family for their Easter church outing on April 20, despite stepping back from public duties in 2019 due to backlash over his relationship with Jeffrey Epstein. The Duke of York attended mass alongside his ex-wife Sarah Ferguson and sister Princess Anne, as well as his daughters Princess Beatrice and Princess Eugenie and their husbands.
Prince Andrew faced controversy in 2022 when he was stripped of military titles and patronages by Queen Elizabeth after a court battle over his alleged ties to Epstein. He denied wrongdoing and settled with accuser Virginia Giuffre out of court for an undisclosed amount.
While Prince Andrew no longer undertakes official royal duties, he has continued to attend family events like Christmas church walks and funeral services. However, he skipped the 2024 Christmas luncheon and church outing amid concerns over his suspected connection to a Chinese “spy.” Buckingham Palace clarified recent private meetings between Prince Andrew, his former aide Dominic Hampshire, and King Charles, stating that discussions focused on independent funding for renewable energy projects in Africa.
Despite these developments, Prince Andrew’s Easter outing suggests he remains a part of the royal family’s social circle. The palace released a statement denying any mention of Yang Tengbo, a Chinese individual who was barred from entering the UK due to national security concerns, during private meetings between Prince Andrew and King Charles.
Source: https://people.com/why-prince-andrew-joined-royals-easter-despite-controversy-11718538