Prince Andrew breaks cowl amid Chinese spy row: Duke of York is pictured behind wheel of his Range Rover in Windsor as disgraced royal faces calls to overlook Sandringham Christmas over scandal
Prince Andrew was seen out for the first time amid a Chinese spy row – after being urged to ‘do the right thing’ and uninvite himself from the Royal Family‘s Christmas lunch.
The disgraced Duke appeared glum this morning as he drove his Range Rover from Royal Lodge, Windsor, after his alleged decade-long friendship with a Chinese spy was uncovered.
Andrew is due to attend an annual Christmas lunch at Buckingham Palace on Thursday and then the traditional walk from Sandringham to St Magdalene Church on Christmas Day in front of a crowd of onlookers.
King Charles is set to host his biggest ever family Christmas, with Prince William having already revealed he will be spending December 25 with 45 people at Sandringham, his father’s private estate in Norfolk.
However, insiders have suggested Andrew should choose to step aside to avoid potential embarrassment, with the Daily Mail’s Royal Editor Rebecca English revealing how the King desperately hopes the Duke will stay away this Christmas.
Last week, Andrew became the subject of yet another scandal when it was revealed a ‘close confidant’ of the Duke was an alleged Chinese spy who has been banned from entering the UK after an investigation by MI5.
Prince Andrew driving in his car today from Royal Lodge in Windsor
The Duke of York was spotted this morning driving a Range Rover from Royal Lodge
Andrew is due to attend an annual Christmas lunch at Buckingham Palace on Thursday but has faced calls to stay away
King Charles and Queen Camilla are seen leading the family for a Christmas Day church service last year in Sandringham, Norfolk – Andrew is being urged to stay away this year
The alleged agent, who can be named only as H6, was so close to Andrew that he visited Buckingham Palace twice, and entered St James’s Palace and Windsor Castle.
The King is understood to be furious that Andrew has yet again plunged the Royal Family into another scandal.
Charles is said to want his younger brother to make his own decision to step aside from public appearances, instead of forcing His Majesty to take matters into his own hands and axe him from all public-facing events this festive season.
Currently Andrew is due to join the rest of his family in Norfolk for Christmas, alongside his ex-wife Sarah as well as daughters Princess Beatrice and Eugenie and their children.
Prince Andrew pictured with the alleged Chinese spy who he invited to Buckingham Palace
But things could be different this year amid revelations of the King’s fury – with the alleged relationship tarnishing the reputation of the entire Royal Family.
A source, however, said that, despite his frustration with the Duke of York, Charles has accepted that he can’t ‘divorce or sack’ his younger brother, as ‘there will always be a bond of blood’.
Insiders have said Andrew is being urged to make the decision himself to avoid making King Charles having to ban his brother from the engagements.
A royal insider told The Sun: ‘There would inevitably have to be some very awkward conversations and the King would not relish making his brother squirm.’
Friends of Andrew suggested that he must know his presence at such events will put King Charles in an awkward position.
The alleged spy, who is a businessman, has previously attended a meeting of the powerful Chinese People’s Political Consultative Conference (CPPCC) in Beijing.
