Sarah , Duchess of York – Prince Andrew and his ex-wife, Sarah Ferguson, were recently photographed together leaving Royal Lodge, their shared residence despite their divorce. The Duke and Duchess of York were seen driving to Windsor Castle, located on the same estate.
Their outing coincided with King Charles and Princess Anne’s attendance at the Sandringham church service, where they braved the winter chill to greet well-wishers at St. Mary Magdalene Church. Meanwhile, Prince Andrew and Sarah Ferguson reportedly opted out of the traditional royal Christmas lunch at Sandringham, likely due to Andrew’s ongoing Chinese spy scandal.
The Scandal and Its Fallout
Prince Andrew, 64, has been under scrutiny for his alleged ties with Yang Tengbo, an accused Chinese spy banned from the UK on national security grounds. Reports suggest the Duke of York maintained a decade-long friendship with Yang, described as a “close confidant.”
Biographer Andrew Lownie recently stated that Andrew is unlikely to ever return to Sandringham for Christmas celebrations, emphasizing that the royals “need to distance themselves from him” to avoid further embarrassment. Lownie also described how Andrew was effectively “forced” out of the royal festivities.
Photos from earlier in the holiday period showed Prince Andrew driving alone in Windsor as other family members prepared to travel to Sandringham. It was also revealed that Prince Edward and his wife, Sophie, were reportedly unhappy with plans to share a cottage with Andrew over Christmas before he pulled out of the gathering.
A Tarnished Reputation
Since his infamous 2019 Newsnight interview, where he failed to adequately address his relationship with the late Jeffrey Epstein and allegations from Virginia Giuffre, Prince Andrew has largely been sidelined from public royal duties. The interview further damaged his reputation, and his financial dealings have since come under scrutiny.
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Lownie described Andrew’s behavior as “thick-skinned,” adding that the Duke appears indifferent to how his actions affect the royal family’s image. Paparazzi often capture Andrew in public, seemingly unfazed by the optics.
GB News royal correspondent Cameron Walker speculated that Sarah Ferguson may have played a role in persuading Andrew to skip the Christmas gathering, recognizing the potential damage it could cause to the monarchy’s image.
The Bigger Picture
The Duke’s financial ties have drawn increasing attention, with allegations of deals involving the Middle East and Central Asia. Leaked emails recently revealed Andrew received preferential treatment in opening a Bank of China account, raising questions about his financial transparency.
Lownie suggested that the spy scandal could prove even more damaging than the Epstein controversy, potentially leading to greater scrutiny of royal finances. He predicted further revelations about Andrew’s financial activities, which could severely impact the monarchy.
Festivities at Sandringham
Despite the controversy, King Charles hosted a festive Christmas celebration at Sandringham, attended by 45 guests, including Prince William, Princess Kate, and their children. The family participated in traditional activities such as a morning church service and an evening of games like charades and bingo.
While the royal family enjoyed their festivities, Andrew and Ferguson reportedly spent Christmas Day together in relative seclusion, away from the public eye.
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