Kate Middleton refused to invite controversial Prince Andrew to her carol service

The British royal family gathered at Westminster Abbey last week for Kate Middleton’s annual Christmas carol concert, a tradition that has become a hallmark of the holiday season.

While familiar faces such as Princess Beatrice, Zara Tindall, and Sophie, Duchess of Edinburgh, were spotted among the 22 members of the royal family in attendance, one notable absence was Prince Andrew.

According to royal columnist Ephraim Hardcastle of The Daily Mail, Andrew was not missing due to scheduling conflicts or illness – he simply was not invited. Despite King Charles’s apparent attempt to mend fences with his younger brother by inviting him to Sandringham for Christmas, the Prince and Princess of Wales were less accommodating.

William and Kate aren’t sharing the love,” Hardcastle wrote, citing a “mole” within the royal circle. He revealed that there had been suggestions to invite Andrew to Kate’s carol service, but with the stipulation that he be seated “possibly behind a pillar” to avoid drawing too much attention. However, these suggestions were firmly rejected for the second year in a row.

This year’s Christmas carol service at Westminster Abbey was very much a “family affair,” with senior royals and other family members taking their seats to enjoy the festive occasion.

Princess Beatrice and her husband, Edoardo Mapelli Mozzi, were present, as were Zara Tindall, Sophie, Duchess of Edinburgh, and other high-profile figures from the royal household. But Prince Andrew was nowhere to be seen