Sarah Ferguson and her former husband, Andrew, made their first public appearance in months as they joined family members for the christening of Princess Beatrice’s daughter, Athena, at St James’s Palace.
The former couple—who have largely remained out of the public eye following years of controversy and scrutiny—attended the private ceremony alongside their two daughters, Princess Beatrice and Princess Eugenie, as well as their granddaughter. Their presence marked a symbolic return to royal family traditions amid persistent speculation about internal tensions.
Princess Eugenie and her husband, Jack Brooksbank, were seen welcoming Andrew and Ferguson upon their arrival, helping dispel rumours of discord within the family.
Beatrice, 37, and her husband, property developer Edo Mapelli Mozzi, 42, gathered close relatives and friends at the Chapel Royal for the baptism of their second daughter, Athena, who was born prematurely in January.
The appearance comes after both Andrew and Ferguson withdrew from public life due to scandals tied to their associations with convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein.
While Beatrice has reportedly remained close to her mother throughout the fallout, both sisters' relationship with their father is said to have been strained further by new disclosures in legal documents connected to accuser Virginia Giuffre.
The pair arrived for the ceremony in separate vehicles, marking their first entry into a royal palace since Andrew was stripped of his royal and military titles in October following renewed revelations about his links to Epstein.
According to reports, Athena's christening—originally expected to take place earlier this year—was postponed due to the intense scrutiny facing her grandparents. Beatrice’s elder daughter, Sienna, now four, was baptised within six months of her birth in 2022.
