The Royal Family is currently gathering at Sandringham, where they’ll be enjoying their beloved, and not to mention eccentric, Christmas traditions. But Prince Andrew won’t be joining them.

While the gag gift swapping and tree decorating gets underway, Andrew has stepped well away from this year’s festivities to avoid any further embarrassment for his elder brother, King Charles III. Royal sources have confirmed he’s “done the right thing”, with senior members of the Firm said to be ‘exasperated’ by him.

The Duke of York, whose friendship with convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein brought great shame on the family, has faced yet more controversy in recent times amid a scandal involving alleged Chinese spy Yang Tengbo, who is now banned from the UK after losing an appeal earlier this month.

Now Andrew, 64, will instead be spending a quieter Christmas at Royal Lodge with his ex-wife Sarah, Duchess of York, as some 45 regal guests celebrate in style at the breath-taking Sandringham estate in Norfolk.

Over the weekend, Andrew was spotted heading out on his own near Windsor Castle, ahead of what looks set to be a lonely festive period.

The Duke was recently spotted driving out on his own near Windsor Castle ( 
Image:
Kelvin Bruce)
So what will the festive season have in store instead? Well, it seems it will be very different from last year when he was surrounded by his relatives. Instead, he will stay at his Royal Lodge home – with seemingly only ex-wife Fergie for company.

The pair have an unconventional relationship. Despite being divorced, they still live together in the 30-room mansion in Windsor, amid reported attempts by King Charles to evict them. Earlier this month, Fergie declared she will always “support” the father of her children.

Andrew will be spending this Christmas with ex-wife Fergie ( 
Image:
AFP via Getty Images)
She added: “I was totally and utterly in love with Andrew. I would do it all over again, 100 per cent. He’s the best, a great man with a great heart and kind. Our wedding was the best day of my life. But I gave up my anonymity that day. I was able to because love conquers all. It’s still with us today. I won’t let him down.”

Princess Beatrice will spend Christmas with her in-laws ( 
Image:
UK Press via Getty Images)

Princess Eugenie with husband Jack Brooksbank ( 
Image:
UK Press via Getty Images)
Andrew and Sarah have two daughters, Princess Beatrice and Princess Eugenie, who also have three children between them. However, sources have said they will be spending Christmas with their respective in-laws for the first time this year. Beatrice, who is expecting her second child, will be with husband Edoardo Mapelli Mozzi and their three-year-old daughter Sienna. Eugenie will be with her husband, Jack Brooksbank, and his family, along with their sons, August and Ernest.

Andrew disappeared from public life since stepping down from official duties in 2019, but he carried on joining the Royal Family on Christmas Day in the past. Last year, he walked from Sandringham House to church with the other royals – seen as symbolic of his gradual rehabilitation within the family.

Andrew at King Charles’ Coronation last year ( 
Image:
PA)
After the service, the duke laughed and threw up his hands as he joked with well-wishers and was joined by his ex-wife, the Duchess, who returned to the royal fold after missing Sandringham for a number of decades.

Andrew’s status as a member of the Royal Family was left in tatters when the late Queen later stripped him of his honorary military roles and remaining royal patronages. In a dramatic fallout from his civil sex case, he gave up his HRH style. He no longer attends Trooping the Colour, Remembrance Sunday commemorations at the Cenotaph, or the annual Commonwealth Day service.

But he was at the King’s coronation, and is still a member of the Order of the Garter, taking part in the senior order of chivalry’s annual service behind closed doors, but does not appear in the public procession.

Royal biographer Ingrid Seward told the Mirror: “His irresponsible behaviour and dubious friendships have exasperated his older brother for some time now. However, nothing has been quite as damaging to the monarchy as Andrew’s current situation. It involves the British government, MI6 and the Chinese government. It is almost like a television spy special.