Princesses Beatrice and Eugenie face ‘tug-of-love’ dilemma after King’s invitation to spend Christmas at Sandringham… without Andrew and Fergie

With their disgraced parents banished into exile, the sisters are being pulled in different directions by their divided family’s competing demands.

Sources say the situation has become a logistical and emotional nightmare for the siblings. Both women remain loyal to the King and to the institution, and they are equally devoted to their parents.

Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor and his ex-wife Sarah Ferguson attended the christening of Beatrice’s second daughter, Athena, on Friday, though they arrived separately for the occasion at the Chapel Royal in St James’s Palace.

It was the first time the pair had stepped inside a royal palace since they were stripped of their titles following fresh revelations about their relationships with paedophile Jeffrey Epstein.

A christening celebration was held afterwards, hosted by Beatrice, 37, in a nearby pub, but her parents were not to be seen.

It is understood she made it known that she would have welcomed members of the wider Royal Family, including King Charles. But so close to Christmas, he was unable to attend.

The day before the christening, both Beatrice and Eugenie, 35, were spotted looking relaxed and cheerful following a two-hour lunch at the exclusive Mount St Restaurant in Mayfair.

Princesses Beatrice and Eugenie face a ‘tug-of-love’ dilemma after being invited by the King (pictured) to spend Christmas at Sandringham, The Mail on Sunday has learned

Pictured: The Royal family attending the Christmas Morning Service at Sandringham Church last year 

Eugenie looked elegant in a black coat over a pair of £2,000 Hermes boots. Beatrice, who appeared unruffled by preparations for the christening of 11-month-old Athena, wore a camel wool coat over black tights and boots.

However, a source said yesterday that Beatrice is feeling particularly under pressure as she feels she ‘has to be in three places at once’ on Christmas Day. Staying at her new Cotswolds home with interior designer husband Edoardo Mapelli Mozzi their children and her mother is thought to be her preferred option.

At the same time, she naturally feels diplomatically obliged to be seen with the rest of the royals at the King’s Norfolk estate.

But the source said she also felt compelled to spend one final Christmas at Royal Lodge with her father, despite his fall from grace over the Epstein scandal.

The source added: ‘Unless she makes a decision to pick one side and one side only, she will spend a lot of time in the car.

‘Overall it falls to the princesses to soothe family divisions. They are struggling with Christmas.’

Using a royal helicopter to shuttle from venue to venue was never an option, not least because it would be certain to be a PR disaster.

Pictured: The sisters appeared relaxed and cheerful when they were spotted leaving Mount St. Restaurant in Mayfair, sharing a smile with the camera as they enjoyed each other’s company

Beatrice is feeling particularly under pressure as she feels she ‘has to be in three places at once’ on Christmas Day, a source revealed. Staying at her new Cotswolds home with interior designer husband Edoardo Mapelli Mozzi, their children and her mother is thought to be her preferred option

Princess Eugenie (pictured), who lives in Portugal, is said to feel slightly less conflicted about attending Christmas at Sandringham

Andrew has been discouraged from joining the Royal Family at Sandringham, leaving the wider family to put on a united front at St Mary Magdalene Church on Christmas morning.

Meanwhile, Princess Eugenie, who lives in Portugal, is said to feel slightly less conflicted.

The source added: ‘Eugenie was tempted to stay in Portugal with her family and husband Jack Brooksbank. She is so settled there, far from all the drama.’

Christmas, traditionally a season that brings the Windsors together under one roof, now threatens to expose every fault line.

Buckingham Palace declined to comment.