Prince Andrew will not attend royal pre-Christmas lunch

The Duke of York will not attend the traditional royal family pre-Christmas lunch at Buckingham Palace on Thursday, according to royal sources.

He already had withdrew from attending the Christmas gathering at Sandringham in Norfolk.

It comes after Chinese businessman Yang Tengbo, who had links to the prince, was revealed to have been banned from Britain following concerns about national security risks.

Prince Andrew has said that he had ceased contact with Mr. Yang.

Royal sources suggested the prince felt it was the right thing to do to stay away from the lunch at Buckingham Palace – and that his ex-wife, the Duchess of York, had helped advise him in that decision.

It is understood the King welcomed the Duchess’s help recognizing it was not the time or place for them to attend.

It also suggests that the duchess remains an important influence on Prince Andrew, who is no longer financially supported by the king.

The prince had previously agreed not to attend the traditional festive royal gathering at Sandringham, meaning he will not be in photographs of the royal family attending church on Christmas morning.

It followed suggestions he had been advised to keep a low profile during Christmas events rather than let his public participation overshadow the event.

It now appears he has pulled out of all the royal family’s Christmas celebrations this year and is expected to spend the festive season with the Duchess at their Royal Lodge home in Windsor.

The lunch on Thursday is a private occasion but it is likely that there would have been photographers waiting to get a picture of those in attendance and after some uncertainty it has now emerged that Prince Andrew will not be attending the annual event for the extended family.

The prince’s latest controversy follows a court hearing where a Chinese business contact, Yang Tengbo, was supposed to have been cultivate links with senior figures in the UKin a way that could be used to gain political leverage.

Court papers showed Yang had documents describing Prince Andrew as being in a “desperate situation and will grab anything”.

Mr. Yang has denied allegations that he was spying or had done something illegal and said such claims were “completely untrue”. He had sought to challenge the decision to bar him from Britain, but a court had upheld the ban.

Prince Andrew’s office had issued a statement saying nothing of a sensitive nature had ever been discussed in his dealings with the Chinese business contact.

But the trial had raised broader political questions about Chinese attempts to gain influence. It had also again raised questions about the prince’s finances, his dealings with international contacts and his judgment.

Prince Andrew is no longer an acting royal and Buckingham Palace has not commented.