Key royal family member to miss Commonwealth Day service - but who?

published 4 March 2020

Prince Andrew is set to be noticeably absent from next week's Commonwealth Day service, despite attending with the Queen last year.

It is thought the Duke of York won't attend the Commonwealth Day service alongside other members of the royal family
The event is being held at Westminster Abbey on 9th March
It comes after Prince Andrew stepped down from public duties for the "foreseeable" future following the Jeffrey Epstein scandal
This follows royal news that palace insiders confirmed the Duke and Duchess of Sussex's last official royal engagement

The Duke of York will not be making an appearance alongside the Queen at next week's Commonwealth Day service.

Although Prince Andrew won't be attending, the Queen will be joined by the Prince of Wales, the Duchess of Cornwall, the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge and the Duke and Duchess of Sussex. The Commonwealth Day service is set to be their last royal engagement before they step back from royal duties to live a more private life in Canada.

News of Prince Andrew's absence comes just months after the 60-year-old announced he'd be stepping down from royal duties for the "foreseeable" future as his association with Jeffrey Epstein continued to cause "major disruption" to the "valuable work" of his family.

Following his "disastrous" Newsnight interview with Emily Maitlis he released a statement and said, "It has become clear to me over the last few days that the circumstances relating to my former association with Jeffrey Epstein has become a major disruption to my family's work and the valuable work going on in the many organisations and charities that I am proud to support.

"Therefore, I have asked Her Majesty if I may step back from public duties for the foreseeable future, and she has given her permission. I continue to unequivocally regret my ill-judged association with Jeffrey Epstein.

"His suicide has left many unanswered questions, particularly for his victims, and I deeply sympathise with everyone who has been affected and wants some form of closure.

"I can only hope that, in time, they will be able to rebuild their lives. Of course, I am willing to help any appropriate law enforcement agency."

Georgia writes across Woman & Home and Good to Know and specialises in all things royal. Previously labelled the "Queen of the royals," Georgia knows the whose who and what's what when it comes to the monarchy. When she's not eagerly following the royal family, Georgia enjoys shopping and self-care. She lives with this motto in mind; "if your dreams don't scare you, they aren't big enough."