Prince Andrew to miss Royal Family’s Sandringham Christmas celebration after Chinese ‘spy’ row
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The Duke of York will not join the Royal Family for Christmas at Sandringham following the fallout from his involvement with an alleged Chinese spy. Multiple reports state both Prince Andrew and his ex-wife, Sarah, the Duchess of York, have decided to avoid the annual family gathering at the King’s private Norfolk residence.
It comes after Royal insiders urged Andrew to “do the decent thing” and maintain a low profile over the Christmas period to avoid causing further embarrassment to the King, the Telegraph reported. They had suggested that he stay away from the family’s annual private lunch this week as well as the high profile walk to church from Sandringham House on Christmas Day, the newspaper reported.
Princess Beatrice and Princess Eugenie had already planned to spend Christmas with their respective in-laws this year for the first time. Andrew and Sarah are said to be preparing to spend December 25th together at Royal Lodge, the home they still share in Windsor Great Park, Berkshire.
It is not yet known whether the Duke will attend Charles’s traditional pre-Christmas lunch for the extended family on Thursday, which is expected to be held at Buckingham Palace. It comes as alleged spy Yang Tengbo, who forged links with the duke and mixed with other British establishment figures, insisted he has “done nothing wrong or unlawful” as reporting restrictions that prevented him being named were lifted.