Prince Andrew's absence from recent royal gatherings has fueled speculation about his standing within the family. The Duke of York missed King Charles III's pre-Christmas lunch on December 19th, following public outcry over his reported contact with an alleged Chinese spy. While Andrew's daughters, Princess Beatrice and Princess Eugenie, attended the luncheon, it has been reported that they, along with their father and his ex-wife Sarah Ferguson, will not be present at the traditional royal Christmas celebration at Sandringham on December 25th.

Andrew's absence from the pre-Christmas lunch reportedly came on the advice of Sarah Ferguson, who, according to royal biographer Ingrid Seward, possesses a keen understanding of social dynamics within the royal family. The Duchess of York's counsel, likely supported by Princess Beatrice, suggested it was best for the Duke to avoid the event.

The controversy surrounding Andrew stems from his association with Chinese businessman Yang Tengbo, who was recently identified as a potential security risk. Although Andrew's office released a statement claiming the relationship was purely professional and never involved sensitive information, the connection has drawn significant criticism. Yang himself denies allegations of espionage.

While Prince William and Princess Kate were also absent from the December 19th lunch, their non-attendance was reportedly planned as they were already in Norfolk preparing for Christmas with their children.

It is anticipated that Prince Andrew and Sarah Ferguson will spend Christmas at Royal Lodge with their daughters. This continues a pattern of the Duke being excluded from major royal events, particularly following the 2022 revocation of his royal titles due to his association with Jeffrey Epstein.

Andrew's 2019 BBC interview, where he addressed his relationship with Epstein, further damaged his public image. He expressed regret for his association with the convicted sex offender, acknowledging that it fell short of the standards expected of a member of the royal family.