They say a week is a long time in politics – but for Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor, the last 12 months must feel like a lifetime. In April 2025, the then ‘Prince Andrew, Duke of York’ was beaming for the cameras as he left the Royal Family’s Easter service at Windsor’s St George’s Chapel in high spirits.

But this year, his presence is not welcome, along with his ex-wife, Sarah Ferguson, 66, and, somewhat harshly, in my view, their two daughters, Princesses Beatrice, 37, and Eugenie, 35. Since last Easter, Andrew and Fergie have seen their reputations publicly shredded over their long-standing friendships with the late paedophile financier Jeffrey Epstein.

Epstein was sentenced to 18 months in jail in 2008, but only served 13 months before being released in July 2009, and was then ordered to serve a year’s probation until August 2010.

In an email sent to Andrew and his ex-wife, Fergie, on July 24, 2010, Epstein revealed his joy at serving his probation to finally travel abroad, telling them: “I will be in Paris starting tomorrow.”

Andrew replied: “Congratulations! Really, really good news. If you are in Paris around the 16th, I’ll be across to pay homage to your new life ahead!” Andrew signed the email off with ‘HRH The Duke of York KG’.

He was also left squirming by the release earlier this year of an old photo of himself kneeling on all fours over a female lying on the ground.

In February, on his 66th birthday, Andrew was arrested at his cottage in Sandringham, Norfolk, on suspicion of misconduct in a public office for allegedly passing confidential UK information to Epstein when working as a trade envoy.

Andrew – who MPs in Westminster recently branded a “rude, arrogant and entitled man” – strenuously denies any wrongdoing.

Fergie, meanwhile, has been humiliated by her own emails to the American pervert that the US Department of Justice released as part of the Epstein Files.

Various emails show her pleading for financial help, asking Epstein for a job running his household or in one desperate message in 2010, after he was convicted of his sex crime, even asking the paedophile: “Marry me!”

Then Fergie dragged her daughters into the spotlight after telling Epstein in an email that Eugenie was away on a “shagging weekend.”

Just days ago, Andrew was photographed looking crestfallen as he drove around the Sandringham estate in Norfolk; now he faces an even lonelier Easter.

The shamed former royal has been living at Wood Farm in Wolferton since the start of February as his permanent home, Marsh Farm, is renovated with new carpets, utilities and a security fence. Andrew has consistently and vehemently denied all wrongdoing.

But now on Easter Sunday, Andrew will have to watch his family on the telly as the Prince and Princess of Wales join the King and Queen in Windsor – cheered on by Royal fans.

It is rumoured Zara and Mike Tindall may also be there, along with Princess Anne, Sir Tim Laurence, Edward and Sophie, and their children Lady Louise Windsor and James, Earl of Wessex.

A new guard has replaced the old guard. The House of York has fallen.

A lifetime of poor choices and even worse choices of friends means Andrew’s left sitting at home, while the new look Royal Family move on without him.