The Royal Rift? 5 Key Reasons Princess Eugenie Missed Kate Middleton's Highly Anticipated Carol Concert

The annual "Together at Christmas" carol service, hosted by the Princess of Wales, Catherine, is one of the most important and high-profile events in the Royal Family's calendar. The most recent concert, held in December 2024 at Westminster Abbey, was particularly significant, marking a poignant return to the spotlight for Catherine following her chemotherapy treatment. While the event saw a huge turnout of senior royals, including Prince William and the Wales children, the absence of one prominent family member—Princess Eugenie—sparked immediate and widespread speculation across royal circles and media outlets.

The non-attendance of Princess Eugenie, and her sister Princess Beatrice, from this pivotal moment immediately raised questions about potential rifts or underlying tensions within the extended Royal Family. Despite a brief, regretful message shared by Eugenie on social media, no definitive explanation was given, leaving royal commentators to piece together the most likely reasons for her missing an event that was a powerful show of unity for the Princess of Wales.

Princess Eugenie: Full Royal Profile and Biography

Princess Eugenie, officially known as Princess Eugenie, Mrs Jack Brooksbank, is a prominent, non-working member of the British Royal Family. She is known for her philanthropic work and her close relationships with several senior royals, including Prince Harry.

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• Full Name: Eugenie Victoria Helena
• Born: March 23, 1990, at Portland Hospital, London
• Parents: Prince Andrew, Duke of York, and Sarah, Duchess of York
• Sibling: Princess Beatrice (older sister)
• Spouse: Jack Brooksbank (married October 12, 2018, at St George's Chapel, Windsor Castle)
• Children: August Philip Hawke Brooksbank and Ernest George Ronnie Brooksbank
• Line of Succession: Currently 12th in the line of succession to the British throne (as of late 2025)
• Education: Attended Marlborough College and graduated from Newcastle University with a 2:1 degree in English Literature and History of Art.
• Career: Director at Hauser & Wirth art gallery in London.

The Significance of the 2024 'Together at Christmas' Concert

To understand the weight of Princess Eugenie’s absence, it is crucial to appreciate the context of the 2024 carol service. This was not just another holiday event; it was a major royal milestone for the Princess of Wales (Catherine) and an important display of family solidarity.

A Triumphant Return for the Princess of Wales

The 2024 concert was one of Catherine's first major public appearances since she completed her course of preventative chemotherapy for an undisclosed form of cancer. Her attendance, alongside Prince William and their three children, Prince George, Princess Charlotte, and Prince Louis, was seen as a powerful and emotional moment for the Princess of Wales and the entire nation. It was a clear signal that Catherine was back and committed to her role, making the event a focal point for all royal supporters and media. Any absence from a close family member was therefore magnified under this intense spotlight.

A Strong Show of Royal Unity

The guest list for the Westminster Abbey event was a who's who of the British monarchy, demonstrating a united front during a challenging year for the family. Attendees included:

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• The Prince of Wales (Prince William)
• Prince George, Princess Charlotte, and Prince Louis
• The Duchess of Edinburgh (Sophie)
• The Duke and Duchess of Gloucester
• The Duke of Kent
• Members of the Middleton Family (Carole, Michael, Pippa, and James Middleton)

The presence of the Middleton family, including Kate's parents and siblings, further highlighted the importance of family support. The absence of Princesses Eugenie and Beatrice, who have often attended in previous years, was a notable omission from this comprehensive list of attendees rallying around Catherine.

The 5 Most Likely Reasons for Princess Eugenie’s Absence

While Princess Eugenie did not issue a formal, detailed statement, the combination of her social media activity and widely reported royal sources points to a few distinct possibilities for why she and her sister, Princess Beatrice, were not present at the 'Together at Christmas' service.

1. The Prince Andrew Shadow: Avoiding Negative Media Attention

This is arguably the most cited and pervasive reason among royal commentators. Since the controversy surrounding Prince Andrew, the Duke of York, his daughters have faced intense media scrutiny whenever they appear at major royal events. The 2024 carol concert was a positive, celebratory event focused on the Princess of Wales and her recovery. Royal sources suggest that Beatrice and Eugenie may have made the conscious decision to step back to ensure the focus remained entirely on Catherine and the charitable causes the concert was supporting. Their presence, unfortunately, often brings renewed attention to their father's ongoing issues, which they likely wished to avoid during such a pivotal moment for the Princess of Wales.

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2. Eugenie's Regretful Instagram Statement

Princess Eugenie did acknowledge her absence, but only indirectly. After the event, she took to her personal Instagram Stories, sharing an image of the concert invitation and writing: "Wish Bea and I could have been celebrating tonight with our family." This brief statement confirms two key entities: that she was invited and that she regretted missing the event. Crucially, it provided no reason for the non-attendance, leaving the door open to speculation. The message of regret suggests the absence was not due to a personal snub or an intentional rift with Catherine, but rather due to unavoidable circumstances.

3. Personal or Family Commitments

Princess Eugenie, like her sister, Princess Beatrice, is not a working royal. Both hold professional jobs—Eugenie as a Director at Hauser & Wirth art gallery—and have young families. Eugenie is a mother to two young sons, August Brooksbank and Ernest Brooksbank. It is plausible that the absence was simply due to pre-existing personal commitments, such as work travel, a family illness, or childcare arrangements that conflicted with the date of the carol service. Since they are not senior working members, they do not have the same obligation as Prince William or Prince Edward to cancel personal plans for an event.

4. The Evolving Royal Hierarchy

The Royal Family has been undergoing a period of streamlining and a greater focus on the "core" working members. While the Princess of Wales has made an effort to include the wider family, particularly Beatrice and Eugenie, the overall trend is toward a smaller, more focused monarchy. Their decision to step back, or perhaps a mutual agreement for them to not attend, might be an acknowledgment of this evolving royal structure, reserving their presence for only the most essential state occasions, such as Trooping the Colour or the Sovereign's official birthday celebrations.

5. Geographical Distance and Logistics

Although Princess Eugenie primarily lives in the UK, she has spent time in Portugal with her husband, Jack Brooksbank, due to his work commitments with the CostaTerra Golf and Ocean Club. While they maintain a UK residence, the logistical complexity of traveling back to London during the busy Christmas season, especially with two young children, for a non-essential event may have been a contributing factor. The timing of the carol service, which is often held in early to mid-December, can clash with pre-planned holiday travel or school commitments for the children.

The Relationship Between Princess Eugenie and Catherine

Despite the speculation surrounding the missed concert, the relationship between Princess Eugenie and the Princess of Wales, Catherine, is generally reported to be warm and respectful. There has been no credible evidence of a personal feud or major falling out. In fact, reports following Catherine’s cancer diagnosis suggested that the difficult period had actually prompted Prince William to strengthen his relationship with his cousins, Beatrice and Eugenie, indicating a desire for family unity during a time of crisis. The invitation itself, which Eugenie shared, confirms that she was included and welcomed at the event, suggesting the decision not to attend was a logistical or strategic one, not a personal one.

The "Together at Christmas" carol service remains a highlight of the Christmas season, and the focus will always be on the positive message it conveys. While Princess Eugenie’s absence was a talking point, all signs—from her expressed regret to the broader context of royal strategy—suggest that it was a decision rooted in discretion and personal priorities rather than any deep-seated royal rift.