Prince Andrew and his ex-wife, Sarah Ferguson, have declined King Charles's invitation to spend Christmas with the royal family at Sandringham. This means they will miss the traditional Christmas morning church service and the subsequent family lunch.

The Duke and Duchess of York, along with their daughters Princess Beatrice and Princess Eugenie, will be absent from the Sandringham gathering. This news comes shortly after reports surfaced regarding Prince Andrew's contact with a Chinese businessman, Yang Tengbo, who has been described as an alleged spy. Although Andrew's office stated that the contact was not of a "sensitive nature" and that ties have been severed following official advice, the timing raises eyebrows.

Mr. Tengbo has refuted claims of espionage, stating that such descriptions are "entirely untrue." He was identified after a High Court anonymity order was lifted. While he has been described as a "close confidant" of Prince Andrew, the nature of their relationship remains under scrutiny.

It is unclear whether the Duke of York and his family will participate in other royal Christmas traditions. Last year, they unexpectedly joined the royal family for Christmas services, which deviated from expectations. It is anticipated that Andrew and Ferguson will likely spend Christmas Day at the Royal Lodge, their residence within the Windsor Castle estate.

Prince Andrew's association with convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein continues to impact his role within the royal family. He was stripped of his military titles and royal patronages in 2022 and is no longer considered a working royal. This year's absence from Christmas at Sandringham further underscores his distanced position within the monarchy.