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Prince Andrew is set to join the rest of the royal family at Balmoral Castle in Scotland this summer for the first time since stepping back from royal duties in 2019. The disgraced Duke of York, who has primarily remained at the Royal Lodge in Windsor since his controversial friendship with late pedophile Jeffrey Epstein came to light, will be welcomed back into the fold by his older brother King Charles III.
Andrew will be accompanied by his ex-wife Sarah Ferguson, Duchess of York, and their two daughters Princess Beatrice and Princess Eugenie, according to sources. Beatrice's husband Edoardo Mapelli Mozzi and their young daughter Sienna are also expected to make the trip north. Eugenie and her husband Jack Brooksbank will bring their one-year-old son August along with them.
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The 58-year-old prince has "rarely left Royal Lodge" over the past year and has become "a bit of a loner," said an insider. Both Fergie and his daughters are hoping that spending time with family at Balmoral will help lift Andrew's spirits. Balmoral has long been an important place for the royal family to relax and bond away from the public eye.
Queen Elizabeth's beloved Scottish Highland retreat is where she welcomes close family members each summer for nearly two months. King Charles has continued the tradition since assuming the throne in September. His wife, Camilla, Queen Consort is said to be looking forward to her grandchildren joining them.
The 76-year-old monarch also wanted his younger brother to join so that Andrew could reconnect with the family. However, Prince Harry and Meghan Markle have not been invited to Balmoral this year. It will be the first gathering at Balmoral since the Queen's death without the Sussexes present.
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A source told Express that Charles wants "it to be a happy family occasion where members of the family come together for just over a week to discuss plans for the future and relax." The families' current situation and how they can better position themselves for the future will reportedly be on the agenda during scheduled meetings at Balmoral.
The future roles of Harry and Meghan, who stepped down as senior working royals in 2020, within the family is said to be one point of discussion. Their titles of Duke and Duchess of Sussex, bestowed by the late Queen, could potentially be changed during talks. The couple's overseas tours and an upcoming trip to New York are also likely to come up.
Other members of the royal family joining the King and Queen Consort at Balmoral will include the Queen's only daughter Princess Anne and her husband Vice Admiral Sir Timothy Laurence. Queen Camilla's children Tom Parker Bowles and Laura Lopes, as well as their children, will make the journey to Scotland.
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Naturally, the Wales family including Prince William, Princess Kate, Prince George, Princess Charlotte, and Prince Louis will be in attendance. The two youngest children of the Earl and Countess of Wessex, Lady Louise Windsor and James, Viscount Severn, will also take part in summer festivities at the 50,000-acre Scottish estate.
Queen Camilla is said to be a proud grandmother to her five grandchildren. While interactions between the various sections of the family have been scarce since the Sussexes stepped back, the Balmoral gatherings provide an opportunity to come together, focus on family bonds, and ensure a strong and resilient House of Windsor can guide the monarchy successfully into the future.
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The King is still grieving the loss of his beloved mother after her record-breaking 70-year reign came to an end. Welcoming his brother Andrew back amongst the fold, at least temporarily, shows the desire to present a united front as they all continue to adapt to this new chapter for Britain's most famous family.
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