Prince Andrew to Skip Royal Family’s Christmas Celebration

Prince Andrew, Duke of York, is set to withdraw from the royal family’s traditional Christmas gathering at Sandringham Estate (eastern England) this year amid controversy surrounding his connections to an alleged Chinese spy.

According to The Guardian, Andrew, 64, will not attend the celebrations, which are expected to be attended by 45 members of the royal family on Christmas Day. This comes after a High Court hearing revealed a close friendship between the British prince and a Chinese businessman accused of espionage, Yang Tingbo.

Yang has denied involvement in espionage, claiming he has “done nothing wrong or illegal” and that the concerns raised by the Home Office are “baseless.”

The businessman was reportedly a frequent visitor to the UK and attended events at royal residences, including Andrew’s birthday party at his home.

Court documents revealed that Yang was so close to the Duke that he was authorized to act on his behalf in an international financial initiative involving potential partners and investors in China.

Last week, Andrew’s office stated that he had severed all ties with Yang, whom he met through “official channels” without “ever discussing anything sensitive.”

Sarah, Duchess of York, Andrew’s former wife, will also miss the Christmas celebrations at Sandringham, reportedly as a show of solidarity with her ex-husband.