The Royal Family enjoyed a wonderful Easter service together at St. George's Chapel in Windsor, but there's an underlying story about the group that's making headlines instead.
Hello! Magazine noticed that Prince Andrew, Duke of York was absent from the Royal Family's official photo on their Instagram account. The Duke's absence caused quite a stir in the comments section, as he was seen standing next to Queen Camilla and Anne, Princess Royal in photos published by various media outlets.
Hello! Magazine estimates that Prince Andrew's recent case involving an alleged Chinese spy motivated King Charles to omit the Duke from an official social media post.
However, that wouldn't need to stop the Royals from taking a picture with their relative since he hasn't been a working member of the Royal Family since he stepped away in 2019. Also, if Andrew's presence was such a problem, King Charles and the rest of the family could have requested the Duke of York to be more low key during the rest of the holiday.
A confusing situation to say the least
The Royal Family showed how they might handle situations like this during the group's Christmas Day walk in Sandringham.
Hello! Magazine's report highlights that Prince Andrew didn't attend that event at all. Ironically, this came months before the King had to deny any involvement in the Duke of York's current scandal.
However, it's possible that the reason explaining Prince Andrew's omission from the Royal Family's Easter photo is less abrasive than we think.
Hello! Magazine mentions that King Charles has focused on streamlining the Royal Family's working roster since he ascended to the throne. This includes making the Royal Family a more open and transparent institution focused on public service.
Also, Prince William and Princess Catherine were absent from the family's Easter service at St. George's Chapel since they decided to celebrate the holiday alone with their children in Norfolk.
So, it's entirely possible that Prince Andrew's absence from the family photo is the result of multiple factors. King Charles wants the Royal Family to be more transparent in this new era, but it's hard to do that when an elder member is always dealing with controversies. At the same time, Prince Andrew put the family in an awkward spot when no one would have blamed him for spending the weekend at home with his ex-wife and the daughters they share.
All in all, this situation is super awkward. What do you guys think?