Pictured: Prince Andrew spotted with loyal Fergie as disgraced duke keeps away from traditional royal Christmas walkabout
Prince Andrew was seen with his loyal ex-wife today as the disgraced Duke kept his distance from the traditional royal Christmas walk at Sandringham.
The Duke of York was seen in a car with Sarah Ferguson in Windsor today, while other prominent royals joined in Norfolk to walk and talk to fans.
The Prince voluntarily agreed to pull out of the Sandringham festivities with Fergie, MailOnline revealed last week.
Amid the alleged Chinese spy scandal linking Prince Andrew, Fergie is said to have influenced her ex-husband’s decision not to attend.
Last year she attended the family celebrations for the first time since 1992.
Sarah Ferguson shared her own Christmas message yesterday, thanking everyone for their kindness and support this year as she walked with the late Queen’s corgis.
Prince Andrew was spotted in Windsor today with faithful Fergie
Fergie and Andrew voluntarily avoided the festivities in Norfolk today
Amid the alleged Chinese spy scandal involving Prince Andrew, Fergie is said to have influenced her ex-husband’s decision not to attend
The Duke of York was seen with Sarah Ferguson in a car in Windsor today as other prominent royals joined in Norfolk to walk and talk to fans
Royal Editor Rebecca English said last week that Fergie had been ‘instrumental’ in her ex-husband’s situation
Sarah Ferguson and Prince Andrew attended Royal Ascot together in 2019
The Duchess of York, wearing a black coat and skirt, shared the video of her and the two dogs on her Instagram page on Christmas Eve.
In the video, the Duchess said the season was a time of reflection and offered “a huge hug of kindness” to all her supporters.
Ms Ferguson said in the video: ‘It’s a time of reflection and I just want to say thank you and a huge hug of goodness and kindness to those of you who have been so kind and so supportive.
‘People all over the world feeling depressed or sad [can] just have some happy bubbly from us here, we’ll send you so much.
“You just have to continue to show light and turn to the light and find the joy and say thank you, and I really think that’s so important, so thank you.”
The Daily Mail previously revealed that His Majesty did not want to ban his brother from attending the meeting, but hoped he would ‘do the decent thing’ and decide to stay away in light of the growing spy scandal.
An alleged Chinese spy, Yang Tengbo, is said to have become a ‘close’ confidant of the Duke of York and has since been banned from entering Britain following an MI5 investigation.
Mr Tengbo has denied being a spy or doing anything illegal. He challenged his ban at the Special Immigration Appeals Commission (SIAC) in July, but lost his appeal last week.
King Charles and Queen Camilla arrived at Sandringham this morning
Both Queen Camilla and Princess Catherine wore emerald coats as they walked with King Charles and Prince William
Charles waved to onlookers as Catherine held the hand of her Prince Louis, her youngest child
The couple shared a kiss on the balcony of Buckingham Palace on their wedding day in 1986
Fergie attended the Christmas Day walkabout with other royals last year for the first time since 1992
A statement from Prince Andrew’s office said: ‘The Duke of York followed the advice of His Majesty’s Government and ended all contact with the individual after concerns were raised.
‘The Duke met the individual through official channels and nothing of a sensitive nature was ever discussed. He cannot comment further on matters relating to national security.”
Sarah Ferguson and Prince Andrew divorced in 1996 after splitting in 1992, but the Duchess has remained close to her ex-husband.
“I am told from sources on both sides of the fence that she has played an important role in being just a small, still voice of calm in her dealings with her ex-husband, and I am told that the King understands that a very delicate situation,” Royal Editor Rebecca English said in Mail+’s Palace Confidential last week.
“She has been very loyal to Andrew, despite all his difficulties over the years, but also to be fair to her, she has been respectful to the King and Queen and the late Queen Elizabeth.”
Fergie still lives with her ex-husband at Royal Lodge in Windsor Great Park, Berkshire.