Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor, Sarah Ferguson set to make first public appearance since royal exile

Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor is expected to make his first public appearance since being stripped of his royal titles and evicted from his lavish 31-bedroom residence.

The former prince will reportedly attend his granddaughter Athena’s baptism on Friday at St James’s Palace in Westminster alongside his ex-wife Sarah Ferguson.

The ceremony will take place in the Chapel Royal, where Princess Beatrice and her husband, Edoardo Mapelli Mozzi, have arranged an intimate gathering for their second daughter’s christening.

According to the Mail on Sunday, the prospect of Mr Mountbatten-Windsor’s presence has caused unease among some attendees.

One insider admitted that “everyone is dreading the thought of seeing Andrew there”.

Another source revealed that Beatrice’s relationship with her father has become strained.

“‘Beatrice has, of course, invited her father. But things are not warm between them. However, she’s worried about him. He’s going through a low ebb with his mental health and she recognises that he dotes on his grandchildren and it would be cruel to deprive him of the chance to attend the christening.”

Diplomacy behind the scenes has reportedly been essential, with some “careful conversations” had with King Charles needed to make the gathering possible.

In late October, Charles censured his younger brother of his “prince” title and ordered him and Ferguson to “move to alternate private accommodation” following renewed scrutiny of Mr Mountbatten-Windsor’s ties to convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein.

Although the King received an invitation to the baptism, he is not expected to attend. The Wales family will also be absent, despite the fact that Princes George and Louis were christened in the same chapel.

Prince Eugenie and her husband Jack Brooksbank will be present, along with several European royals, including Princess Nina of Greece and Denmark, who is one of Athena’s godparents..

While Mr Mountbatten-Windsor is likely to be spotted leaving and returning to the Royal Lodge in Windsor, he will not appear in any official photographs from the event and is set to avoid cameras around the chapel.

“Beatrice is determined to keep the focus entirely on her daughter, but there is no escaping the moment’s significance as this will be the former Duke and Duchess of York’s first appearance at a Royal Family event and possibly the last time he steps foot in St James’s Chapel,” the insider added.

This marks the former Duke of York’s first significant public appearance since attending the funeral of the Duchess of Kent at Westminster Cathedral in September.