Sarah Ferguson has 'literally saved Christmas' amidst Prince Andrew's Chinese 'spy' scandal, Rebecca English says in PALACE CONFIDENTIAL
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Amidst the alleged Chinese spy scandal that Prince Andrew is linked to, Sarah Ferguson is thought to have influenced her ex-husband's decision to not attend the Royal Family's Christmas celebrations at Sandringham. 'Sarah the Duchess of York has saved Christmas for the Royal Family,' Rebecca English said on Mail+'s Palace Confidential.
![[The Duke of York at St George's Chapel at Easter earlier this year]](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2024/12/19/16/93323627-14210341-image-a-24_1734626664503.jpg)
Sitting beside Diary Editor Richard Eden and Mail on Sunday's Charlotte Griffiths, Rebecca described how 'if it hadn't have been for his ex-wife having a quiet word in his ear,' the exact situation for this year's festivities and Andrew may still not be known.
![[Fergie attending the walkabout on Christmas Day with other royals last year for the first time since 1992]](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2024/12/19/16/93323617-14210341-image-a-26_1734626694662.jpg)
The Prince voluntarily agreed to pull out of the celebrations with Fergie, MailOnline revealed earlier this week. The Duchess joined the family's festivities last year for the first time since 1992. It came after it was revealed an alleged Chinese spy, Yang Tengbo, is said to have become a 'close' confidant of the Duke of York and has since been banned from entering the UK after an MI5 investigation.
![[The couple sharing a kiss on Buckingham Palace's balcony on their wedding day in 1986]](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2024/12/19/16/93323635-14210341-image-a-27_1734626717713.jpg)
Mr Tengbo has denied being a spy or doing anything illegal. He challenged his ban at the Special Immigration Appeals Commission (SIAC) in July, but lost his appeal last week. A statement from Prince Andrew's office said: 'The Duke of York followed advice from His Majesty's Government and ceased all contact with the individual after concerns were raised.
![[Sarah and Andrew visiting the Isle of Wight together back in 1986]](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2024/12/19/16/93323631-14210341-image-a-28_1734626723329.jpg)
