The Duke has recently been pictured driving alone near his estate in Windsor whilst the remainder of the firm gather in Norfolk for Christmas.
Prince Andrew was Queen Elizabeth’s third child and was widely considered to be the late monarch’s favourite.
But he has suffered a stunning fall from grace since agreeing to take part in an ill-fated interview with the BBC’s Newsnight in 2019 which saw the Duke answer questions about his much-criticised friendship with the disgraced financier and convicted paedophile Jefferey Epstein.
In the interview conducted by Emily Maitlis, the Duke refused to denounce his friendship with billionaire people trafficker Epstein and gave bizarre answers to questions surrounding an alleged sexual assault of a 17-year-old which included the now infamous Pizza Express and inability to sweat defences.
The Duke has since stepped away from Royal duties and has kept a low profile.
But he was once again making headlines after it came to light that Yang Tengbo, a business acquaintance described as a “close confidant” of the prince, had been expelled from Britain due to suspicions that he was acting as a spy for the Chinese government.
The Duke has denied any knowledge and claimed to have severed ties immediately upon learning of the accusations of espionage against Tengbo.
But the latest scandal could be the straw which breaks the camel’s back for the outcast prince.
During the Sun’s Royal Exclusive show, GB News royal correspondent Cameron Walker said it was “pretty telling” Andrew’s upcoming absence emerged a week before Christmas Day itself.
He said: “If we’d have had no confirmation either way this story would have really dragged on and all everyone would be talking about on Christmas morning is [is] Andrew going to turn up for this Sandringham walk on Christmas Day?”
The prince is expected to spend Christmas Day at the Royal Lodge in Windsor with ex-wife Sarah Ferguson whilst children Beatrice and Eugenie having already planned to spend the day with their respective in-laws prior to the scandal coming to light.
