Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor and Sarah Ferguson will make a dramatic royal return when they attend their granddaughter’s christening on Friday. Princess Beatrice, 37, and husband Edoardo Mapelli Mozzi, 42, will bring close family and friends to the Chapel Royal at St James’s Palace for the christening of their daughter, Athena.

A source said: “It’s going to be a royal occasion but everyone is dreading the thought of seeing Andrew there.” According to the Daily Mail, the source revealed relations between Beatrice and her father are strained but it would be “cruel” for her not to invite Andrew to the event.

They revealed: “Beatrice has, of course invited her father. But things are not warm between them. However, she’s worried about him. 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 added: “Some careful conversations and diplomacy with King Charles will have taken place to get to this stage.”

It is thought Athena Mapelli Mozzi who was born in January 2025 would have been christened earlier this year, had it not been for the scandal engulfing her grandparents. Her older sister Sienna was baptised in 2022 within six months of her birth.

It marks a huge return for Andrew and Fergie into the royal limelight. Andrew was stripped of all his royal titles in October and a formal notice was given for him to move out of Royal Lodge in Windsor and “move to alternative private accommodation”.

His links to paedophile financier Jeffrey Epstein have caused problems for the Royal Family despite the fact he has always strongly denied any wrongdoing.

The decision was made, and action taken by the Firm, due to serious lapses in Andrew’s judgement, it is understood.

Beatrice’s sister Eugenie and her husband Jack Brooksbank will also attend what is expected to be a private ceremony. Athena was premature when she was born and the baby weighed 4lb 5oz when she was delivered at Chelsea and Westminster Hospital on January 22.

Speaking of the birth, Beatrice said: “Nothing quite prepares you for the moment when you realise your baby is going to arrive early… there’s so little control.”

There will also be European royals attending, including Princess Nina of Greece and Denmark, 38, who is Athena’s godmother.

For Andrew and Sarah, it will be their first significant public appearance since they attended the funeral of the Duchess of Kent at Westminster Cathedral in September 2025, when they still had their royal titles.