Prince Andrew and Sarah Ferguson to Appear at Granddaughter’s Christening, Marking notable Royal Return
LONDON, February 28, 2025 – Prince andrew and Sarah Ferguson are set to make a significant public appearance this Friday at the christening of their granddaughter, Athena Mapelli mozzi, at the Chapel Royal at St James’s Palace. the event marks a return to the royal spotlight for the Duke and Duchess of York following a period of considerable public scrutiny and Andrew’s removal from royal duties.
Princess Beatrice, 37, and her husband, Edoardo Mapelli Mozzi, 42, will host the christening for their daughter, Athena, who was born in January 2025.The ceremony will be attended by close family and friends, including Beatrice’s sister, Princess Eugenie, and her husband, Jack Brooksbank, and also European royals such as Princess Nina of Greece and Denmark, who will serve as Athena’s godmother.
the invitation extended to Prince Andrew has been met with mixed emotions within the family. A source revealed to the Express that while relations between Beatrice and her father are currently strained, excluding him would be “cruel,” particularly given his current emotional state. “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,” the source stated.
The christening comes after a delay; Athena, born prematurely at 4lb 5oz at Chelsea and Westminster hospital on January 22nd, would likely have been christened earlier in the year had it not been for ongoing fallout from controversies surrounding her grandparents. Sienna, Beatrice’s older daughter, was baptised within six months of her birth in 2022.
this appearance represents a notable shift for Prince Andrew, who was stripped of his royal titles in October 2024 and later received notice to vacate Royal Lodge in Windsor. The decision followed serious concerns regarding his judgement, stemming from his association with convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein – a connection Andrew has consistently and strongly denied any wrongdoing in.
This will be Andrew and Sarah’s first significant public engagement as attending the funeral of the Duchess of Kent at Westminster Cathedral in September 2025, when they still held their royal titles. The event is expected to be a private ceremony, offering a glimpse into the family’s dynamics as they navigate a new chapter.
