Zara Tindall shares verdict on this year's Christmas after Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor scandal
Zara confirmed that she and Mike will be spending Christmas at Sandringham
Zara Tindall has confirmed she and her family will once again be spending Christmas at Sandringham, describing the royal festivities as “amazing”.
The 44-year-old royal made the rare comment during an appearance at the Beauty Awards in London on Monday. She attended the event alongside her husband, former rugby star Mike Tindall.
Zara Tindall opens up about royal family Christmas plans
Speaking to the Daily Mail, the king’s niece shared a glowing verdict on the upcoming celebrations at Sandringham.
“We are so lucky. Christmas is always amazing,” Zara gushed. “We get to do a lot of fun things, and the place looks amazing. We will see everyone.”
Zara and Mike will bring their three children, Mia, Lena, and Lucas, to Norfolk to spend the holidays with King Charles, Queen Camilla, and the wider royal family.
Expected attendees include Zara’s mother, Princess Anne, her stepfather Sir Tim Laurence, and her brother Peter Phillips.
One person who will not be making a public appearance is Andrew Mountbatten‑Windsor. The former Duke of York lost all remaining titles, styles and honours in October following renewed scrutiny over his ties to Jeffrey Epstein.
He stepped back from public duties in 2019 after a widely criticised BBC interview. In 2021, he was sued for sexual assault by Virginia Giuffre, who claimed she was trafficked by Epstein as a teenager. Andrew denied the allegations and settled the case out of court in 2022, without admitting liability.
While he joined the family walk to church in previous years, he skipped the service last Christmas and is not expected to appear publicly this year.
Zara’s daughters, Mia and Lena, have become fan favourites during the royal walk to church, often spotted alongside their cousins, Prince George, Princess Charlotte, and Prince Louis. Their youngest, Lucas, has yet to make his Christmas Day debut.
Zara also confirmed that she and Mike will attend the Princess of Wales’ Christmas carol service at Westminster Abbey on December 5.
Zara and Mike support Prince William
Zara’s comments come shortly before she attended the Tusk Conservation Awards in London on November 26, where she, Mike, Lady Amelia Spencer and Lady Eliza Spencer appeared in solidarity for Prince William.
The Prince of Wales has been a patron of Tusk since 2005.
Zara looked elegant in a black Rebecca Vallance dress with statement snowflake earrings by Kiki McDonough. She accompanied Mike to the Savoy for the ceremony after a cocktail event earlier that evening.
The couple watched proudly as William delivered one of his most passionate speeches yet.
“If we all want to continue to enjoy and benefit from the wonders of the natural world, we must not be the generation that stands by as wildlife and biodiversity disappears,” William said.
He also paid tribute to wildlife rangers who “made the ultimate sacrifice in the line of duty”.
Zara appeared visibly moved during the speech, particularly as William reflected on the future of the planet.
He added: “When we unite behind a shared purpose, we can accelerate solutions that make both people and planet healthier.”
He urged the audience to act: “What we choose to do will have an impact on future generations. Tonight we must choose to do more.”
Read more: Zara Tindall admits ‘it’s a work in progress’ in marriage confession with Mike
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