Prince Andrew Absent from Christmas at Sandringham

Prince Edward and Sophie were initially unhappy about plans to share a cottage with Prince Andrew at Sandringham for Christmas due to his recent controversies, including an alleged association with a Chinese spy. However, their concerns were alleviated when Andrew decided to withdraw from royal festivities, following advice from his ex-wife Sarah Ferguson. This decision was likely influenced by their daughters, Beatrice and Eugenie, opting to spend the holiday with their husbands instead. Andrew will instead spend Christmas at Royal Lodge in Windsor with Ferguson, who continues to offer him support. Meanwhile, the King expressed gratitude for Ferguson's role in helping to keep Andrew away from the family gathering. The overall situation reflects ongoing tensions within the royal family regarding Andrew's public image and his recent scandals.