HEARTBREAK FOR BEATRICE: Princess Beatrice’s Joy Turns to Panic as Christening Guests Say ‘Not If Andrew Is There’ — Leaving Her More Cornered Than Ever

Princess Beatrice will reportedly have her parents, the former Prince Andrew and Sarah Ferguson, at her daughter’s christening this week, which will be their first family event since King Charles stripped his younger brother of his royal titles.

In a story published on Dec. 6 and updated on Dec. 7, the Daily Mail reported that Andrew Mountbatten Windsor and his ex-wife will attend the christening of their granddaughter, Athena Mapelli Mozzi, at the Chapel Royal at St. James’s Palace on Friday, Dec. 12.

The appearance will be Andrew and Fergie’s first event with members of the royal family since the King stripped his younger brother of his princely title and honors amid renewed scrutiny around the extent of Andrew’s connections to the late Jeffrey Epstein.

“It’s going to be a royal occasion, but everyone is dreading the thought of seeing Andrew there,” a source told the Daily Mail.

PEOPLE has reached out to representatives for Sarah for comment.

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According to the outlet, Princess Beatrice, 37, has remained close to her mother amid the turmoil of the scandal, but her bond with her father is more strained.

“Beatrice has, of course, invited her father. But things are not warm between them,” an insider told the Daily Mail. “However, she’s worried about him. He’s going through a low ebb with his mental health, and she recognizes that he dotes on his grandchildren and it would be cruel to deprive him of the chance to attend the christening.”

“Some careful conversations and diplomacy with King Charles will have taken place to get to this stage,” the insider added.

Athena, 10 months, is Princess Beatrice and Edoardo Mapelli Mozzi‘s second child together. The baby was born prematurely in January and made her first public appearance at a homecoming parade celebrating England’s women’s soccer team in London in July, where Beatrice and Edo also brought along their elder daughter, Sienna, 4, and his son from a previous relationship, Christopher Woolf, 9, for a family day out.

Though the christening will likely be a private ceremony, it will bring Andrew and Fergie together with members of the royal family for the first time since losing their titles. The former couple’s last royal family event was the Duchess of Kent’s funeral at Westminster Cathedral on Sept. 16, and Andrew announced that he was relinquishing use of his royal titles one month later.

A source told the outlet, “Beatrice is determined to keep the focus entirely on her daughter, but there is no escaping the moment’s significance as this will be the former Duke and Duchess of York’s first appearance at a royal family event and possibly the last time he steps foot in St James’s Chapel.”

The Daily Mail speculated that Athena’s christening may have been delayed amid the scandal surrounding the former Duke and Duchess of York. Her sister Sienna was christened when she was 7 months old in April 2022, Hello! reported.

The report alleged that King Charles was invited but is not expected to attend, and Prince William and Kate Middleton are not expected to attend either. The Prince and Princess of Wales’ sons, Prince George, 12, and Prince Louis, 7, were both christened at the Chapel Royal at St. James’s Palace when they were babies.

The Daily Mail reported that Beatrice’s sister, Princess Eugenie, and her husband, Jack Brooksbank, will attend Athena’s christening, with Princess Nina of Greece and Denmark and Beatrice’s friend, celebrity nutritionist Gabriela Peacock, named as godmothers.

Princess Beatrice and Princess Eugenie, 35, made news for missing Princess Kate’s “Together at Christmas” Carol Service on Friday, Dec. 5, skipping an event they have attended in years past.

PEOPLE understands that Beatrice and Eugenie were invited to the Christmas service in early autumn, but the sisters were unable to attend due to other commitments.

Princess Eugenie shared a message on social media later that evening to express that she and her sister wished they could have been there.

“Wish Bea and I could have been celebrating tonight with our family,” Eugenie wrote on her Instagram Stories later in the night on Dec. 5. “Wishing @princeandprincessofwales such a special evening at her incredible carol service. What an amazing message of love and hope.”

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While Andrew’s daughters have kept a low profile in the weeks since his royal title scandal erupted, PEOPLE understands that Beatrice and Eugenie’s royal status remains wholly unaffected amid the fallout around their father.