Duchess of Edinburgh’s ‘secret turmoil over Andrew’ as she skips Easter service

Sophie, Duchess of Edinburgh, was a no-show at the royals’ Easter Matins service. This weekend, her husband, Prince Edward, became the first royal to visit disgraced Andrew Mountbatten Windsor in Sandringham

Sophie, Duchess of Edinburgh, is a well loved member of the Firm

The royals were out in full force this Easter weekend – but one key player was notably absent.

Sophie, Duchess of Edinburgh, had been expected to be among the members of the Firm joining the King, Queen and the Prince and Princess of Wales for the annual Easter Matins service at Windsor Castle on Sunday.

But despite both her husband Prince Edward being there with their son James, the Earl of Wessex, Sophie did not join them. It is believed that she decided against attending the service as she is ‘under the weather’.

It was likely a blow for Charles, as Sophie and Edward have become ever more important in supporting the monarchy with the depletion of working royals.

The Firm are also still grappling with the Andrew Mountbatten Windsor ‘problem’ as he is said to be “digging his heels” over moving to his permanent Sandringham residence of Marsh Farm.

The royals walking to church on Easter Sunday

The disgraced former prince has been living at Marsh Farm, another one of Charles’ private properties on the estate, since being booted out Royal Lodge – his 30-room mansion in Windsor.

His younger brother, Prince Edward, became the “first and only” Windsor to go and see Andrew in Sandringham this weekend, to have a “quiet word” about hurrying up his move.

Edward and Sophie often use Wood Farm as their Easter break property, but this year they reportedly had to fork out for a holiday let because the ex duke “refused to budge” from his temporary pad.

“He is just going back and forth between Wood Farm and Marsh Farm,” a source told the Sun. “It’s got to be sorted as Edward and Sophie like to use Wood Farm.”

Prince Edward went to visit his disgraced brother Andrew

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Prince Edward went to visit his disgraced brother Andrew(Image: PA)

The couple play a vital role in representing the Firm at public events, with royal expert Jennie Bond telling the Mirror that the Duke and Duchess of Edinburgh could be the saviours of the monarchy after Andrew’s fall from grace.

She told us last month: “With the depletion of the working royals, Edward and Sophie have become ever more important in supporting the monarchy. And I’m sure they will continue to have key roles when William becomes King.

“Sophie, in particular, has a girl-next-door charm about her that she has never lost, even though she is now a very senior member of the royal family. She is immensely relatable, with no airs or graces, and she has a close and very relaxed relationship with her nephew, William.”

“I’m sure that Edward and Sophie discuss everything and provide valuable support to one another in this crisis”, Jennie explained. “As the two youngest sons of the late Queen – both of them a decade or more younger than their siblings – Edward and Andrew probably have the closest bond.

A photo of Andrew on all fours over a female, released in the Epstein files

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A photo of Andrew on all fours over a female, released in the Epstein files(Image: DoJ)

“So it has no doubt been hard for Edward to witness his brother’s disgrace. But his first and overriding loyalty is to his wife, who is such a tireless campaigner for women who have been sexually abused, particularly in the war zones of the world. How utterly depressing it must be for Sophie to learn about the long-standing and close friendship between her brother-in-law and a convicted paedophile.”

Last month, Edward became the first senior member of the Royal Family to be challenged about his brother following the release of millions of documents in the Epstein files. During a trip to Dubai in February, he said it was “really important” to Epstein’s victims.

And Jennie added: “I have no doubt that Edward was absolutely sincere when he said that it was really important always to remember the victims, especially as he has watched and admired his wife’s work campaigning for many years against sexual violence.

“And of course, he’s right. At least he spoke up – and that’s what we need from the family instead of the old, outdated strategy of ‘never complain, never explain’.”