‘Outcast’ Prince Andrew heads to Windsor alone as Royal Family celebrates Christmas without him after Chinese ‘spy’ row
“OUTCAST” Prince Andrew has been snapped alone at Windsor as King Charles and the other royals arrive at Sandringham for Christmas.
The Duke of York was seen heading for a Sunday afternoon walk on his own after opting not to attend the festivities with his family.
He declined the invitation amid pressure to stay out of sight over the China “spy” scandal.
The monarch, meanwhile, was all smiles as he waved at well-wishers outside St Mary Magdalene Church.
It is traditional for members of the Firm to head to the royal estate in Norfolk ahead of Christmas Eve and before enjoying a lavish lunch on December 25.
‘LESS THAN PLEASED’
The Sun revealed yesterday the King’s other brother Prince Edward and wife Sophie were “unhappy” at plans for them to share a cottage with Andrew over the festive period.
The couple were said to be “less than pleased” when informed they would be bunking up with the disgraced Duke of York at Sandringham.
Yet their fears evaporated when Andrew sent back his invitation.
He is instead expected to spend the festive period in Windsor with ex-wife Sarah Ferguson, who has described herself as a “carer” looking after a “sad man”.
An insider said Edward and Sophie were disappointed last year when “effectively given the servants’ quarters” in Norfolk for the festive royal get-together.
The Edinburghs felt this year’s choice of Wood Farm — Prince Philip’s former hideout — was a “step up” but were unhappy at the thought of Christmas “cheek by jowl with the Yorks”.
The pair were “relieved”, the insider said, when Fergie “encouraged and cajoled” Andrew to stay away.
It had been suggested his decision was made easier as daughters Beatrice and Eugenie were due to spend Christmas with their in-laws and not at Sandringham.
However, Beatrice will now go to Norfolk with husband Edo Mapelli Mozzi and their daughter Sienna, two.
She is pregnant and they were advised it was safer not to fly abroad to see his family, it is understood.
Andrew also pulled out of a pre-Christmas lunch for royals at Buckingham Palace on Thursday.
He has faced mounting pressure after his links to Chinese “spy” Yang Tengbo emerged.
The Royal Household is investigating claims he took Tengbo to Buckingham Palace and Windsor.
INVESTIGATION
Yesterday it was reported a leaked email shows the duke boasted about having been afforded preferential treatment in opening an account with the Bank of China in 2008.
The account is understood to have been based in China and would have allowed Andrew to take payments for business deals outside of the glare of UK authorities.
Royal biographer Andrew Lownie told our Royal Exclusive show: “We need a real investigation, probably by parliamentary committee, into actually what happened with this special representative.”
“The fact is, we know nothing about his finances, he operates through frontmen like Dominic Hampshire, the man who’s involved with this Chinese businessman, but he also disguises his identity in companies.
“He sets up a whole series of dormant companies, where he can disguise transactions through them. His ex wife [Sarah Ferguson] is exactly the same…
“I think there are a lot of big questions about where they’re earning their money.”
Mr Lownie – who is due to release a joint biography on the Yorks next year – said a “whole series” of measures need to be introduced to keep tabs on the royals’ income.