Prince Andrew and Sarah Ferguson have withdrawn from King Charles’s annual Christmas luncheon on December 19th and the traditional Christmas gathering at Sandringham on December 25th. The decision follows recent controversy surrounding the Duke of York’s alleged connection to a suspected Chinese spy.
Sources indicate that the Duke, 64, made the decision after discussions with his ex-wife, the Duchess of York. She reportedly convinced him that skipping the events was the most appropriate course of action given the current circumstances. Royal biographer Ingrid Seward suggests that their daughters, Princess Beatrice and Princess Eugenie, likely supported this decision due to their protective and loyal nature towards their father. Despite divorcing in 1996, Prince Andrew and Sarah Ferguson remain close and reside together at Royal Lodge in Windsor.
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The extended royal family typically gathers for a pre-Christmas luncheon, which will reportedly be held at Buckingham Palace this year. Approximately 70 family members were expected to attend, and Prince Andrew’s attendance remained uncertain until the last minute. The Daily Mail reported that the Duke initially insisted on attending, believing he should be present at the family event.
The controversy stems from Prince Andrew’s alleged ties to Yang Tengbo, a Chinese businessman recently banned from the UK over security concerns. According to the BBC, a British court upheld the ban amidst allegations of espionage. The Times reported that Yang, who attended Prince Andrew’s 60th birthday party and visited the royal estate at Windsor, had gained an unusual level of trust from the Duke. Yang allegedly served as a business advisor to Prince Andrew, with the Duke purportedly promising access to the royal family, potentially jeopardizing national security.
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Buckingham Palace declined to comment on the matter, while Yang denied any wrongdoing in a statement to the BBC. Prince Andrew’s office stated that he severed ties with Yang after receiving government advice, emphasizing that their interactions were strictly through official channels and did not involve sensitive information.
This latest scandal adds to Prince Andrew’s history of controversies, including his association with convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein. Following a controversial Newsnight interview in 2019 regarding his relationship with Epstein, Prince Andrew stepped back from royal duties. Queen Elizabeth stripped him of his military titles and patronages in 2022 following Virginia Roberts Giuffre’s civil sexual assault lawsuit. An out-of-court settlement was reached, and Prince Andrew has largely remained out of the public eye since then.
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The absence of Prince Andrew and Sarah Ferguson from the Sandringham Christmas gathering will also impact their daughters, Princess Beatrice and Princess Eugenie, and their families. It’s understood they will now spend the holidays with their in-laws. While they usually attend the Sandringham celebration, this year marks a rare exception.
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Prince Andrew’s decision to avoid these royal Christmas events relieves pressure on King Charles regarding the Duke’s public appearances amid ongoing controversy.
