Princess Beatrice has made a last-minute change to her Christmas plans after doctors advised her not to travel

Instead, Beatrice and her family will spend Christmas with other members of the royal family, including King Charles and his wife Queen Camilla, at Sandringham.

However, her own parents, Prince Andrew and his ex-wife Sarah Ferguson, Duchess of York, will not be in attendance due to the Duke of York's decision to maintain a low-progile after being linked to a Chinese spy scandal.

Andrew also pulled out of the family's pre-Christmas lunch at Buckingham Palace last Thursday (19.12.24) after Sarah, who he has stayed close to, adopted some "deft family diplomacy" and persuaded him not to go.

According to the Sunday Telegraph newspaper, the king was "very grateful" for the duchess' intervention.

Instead, Andrew and Sarah are expected to celebrate 25 December at their Windsor home Royal Lodge, while their other daughter, Princess Eugenie will join her husband Jack Brooksbank's family, along with their sons August, three, and 18-month-old Ernest.

Beatrice announced her pregnancy in October.

A statement from Buckingham Palace read: "Her Royal Highness Princess Beatrice and Mr Edoardo Mapelli Mozzi are very pleased to announce that they are expecting their second child together in early spring; a sibling for Wolfie, aged eight, and Sienna, aged three."

The statement also noted that the king has been informed and both families are "delighted" with the news.

The new baby will become 11th in line to the throne, just behind its older sister and mother but not be known by the title of HRH or have a royal title, as it is only the grandchildren of the reigning monarch who become known as prince or princess.