Prince Edward and his wife Sophie were bracing for a less than joyful Christmas due to the presence of Prince Andrew, until a last-minute alteration in plans brought them relief.
The Royal couple was originally set to share their Christmas at Sandringham with the Duke of York, which reportedly did not sit well with them. However, their holiday outlook improved when Andrew opted out of attending following his entanglement in a new controversy involving a Chinese spy.
According to reports, Prince Edward and Sophie were “less than pleased” upon learning they would be in close quarters with the Yorks over the festive period. Now, Andrew is expected to spend a solitary Christmas at Royal Lodge with only his ex-wife Sarah Ferguson, while the rest of the family gathers at Sandringham.
A Royal expert has recently suggested that the Duke of York is likely to be “extremely upset” about missing the traditional Christmas celebrations with the Royal Family at Sandringham. Jennie Bond, a former BBC Royal correspondent, told OK!
Magazine: “Andrew would have had to be living on another planet to be unaware of the furore surrounding his association with an alleged spy.”, reports the Mirror.
“Just as the year is set to end on a high for the Royal Family – with the King and Princess of Wales greeting the crowds on Christmas Day – along comes another embarrassing row involving the Duke of York. The King is a kind soul and Andrew is his brother: he would have hated to be put in the position of having to un-invite him or ban him from what promises to be a big family get together.”
“It seems quite likely Andrew sat down with Fergie, and possibly his daughters, to discuss the best solution. Thankfully, wise heads have prevailed and he obviously realised that his presence at Sandringham would be an embarrassing distraction on a day which – this year of all years – should be all about the King and Catherine.”
The Duke of York’s decision comes amidst allegations linking him to a Chinese spy. Currently under scrutiny for his relationship with a businessman known as H6, who has been banned from the UK due to spying concerns, Andrew stated that he “ceased all contact” with the accused when suspicions were first raised, according to a statement from his office.
It’s reported that the Royals are livid after he became embroiled in yet another scandal.
H6, a 50 year old businessman, is alleged to have leveraged his connections with Andrew to secure invitations to high-profile events and Royal residences. The Sunday Times reports that he visited Buckingham Palace twice as the Duke’s guest and attended events at St James’s Palace and Windsor Palace.
Don’t miss the latest news from around Scotland and beyond. Sign up to our daily newsletter.