Prince Andrew vows he WILL attend pre-Christmas lunch with royals despite calls to stay away after spy scandal

DEFIANT Prince Andrew still intends to rub shoulders with Charles and William at a pre-Christmas gathering at Buckingham Palace this Thursday, The Sun understands.

More than 70 royals have been invited and photos of the extended family arriving are expected to be published worldwide.

A source told The Sun of the lunch: “Andrew told friends that it’s his family and so he should be there.

“It’s a family occasion, why shouldn’t he go?”

This comes after it emerged the scandal-hit prince will spend Christmas Day away from the Royal Family and his two daughters after agreeing to steer clear of Sandringham.

Andy — under intense pressure to keep out of the public eye over links to a suspected Chinese spy — will remain at Royal Lodge in Windsor with ex-wife Sarah Ferguson.

Their girls Princesses Beatrice and Eugenie have opted to spend the day with their in-laws.

Last year all four attended Christmas at the Norfolk estate.

But Andrew’s friendship with a Chinese businessman, named yesterday as Yang Tengbo, 50, has raised concerns that he would be a major distraction if photographed on the royals’ walk to St Mary Magdalene Church on December 25.

It is believed King Charles did not want to ban his brother from attending the festivities.

But Fergie, 65, is understood to have made Andrew, 64, do the “gentlemanly thing” and not “embarrass” the King at the Christmas morning gathering.

Beatrice, 36, and Eugenie, 34, have also turned down an invitation to Sandringham, having not had a chance to spend recent Christmases with their husbands’ families.

Beatrice and Edoardo Mapelli Mozzi, 41, have daughter Sienna, three.

They are expecting their ­second child early next year. Bea also has stepson Wolfie.

Eugenie is married to Jack Brooksbank, and they have sons August, three, and Ernest, one.

The couple split their time between the UK and Portugal.

Suspected spy Yang was banned from entering the UK by authorities last year after he was deemed a security risk.

Yesterday a High Court order, which meant he could previously only be identified as H6, was lifted.

Yang knew Andrew for a decade.

Details of the allegations against him came to light last week when a tribunal upheld a Home Office order banning him from the UK.

He is accused of covert and deceptive activity on behalf of China, and that his relationship with Andrew could be used for political interference.

Andrew said on Friday he has “ceased all contact”.

Yesterday Andrew was pictured for the first time since the spy scandal broke — behind the wheel of a Range Rover as he drove out of the Royal Lodge gates.

Andrew told friends that it’s his family and so he should be there. It’s a family occasion, why shouldn’t he go?

A source

Despite being urged to keep a low profile he has privately pledged to attend Thursday’s Buckingham Palace lunch.

Andy and Fergie’s decision to stay at Royal Lodge for Christmas Day has avoided them having a tense and uncomfortable dinner with the rest of the family.

Ingrid Seward, editor-in-chief of Majesty Magazine, said: “I feel the hand of Fergie in this.

“She has a big influence on Andrew.

“He listens to her.

“She would have said, ‘You can’t do this to your brother’.

“I think she must have told him you can’t possibly go to Sandringham and walk to church with the China spy in the news because it would embarrass the King.

“It is a good solution but also the only solution.

“Andrew can still go to Buckingham Palace for the lunch and try not to be seen driving in and out.

"Even if he does it would be nowhere near as bad as walking to church with King Charles at Christmas Day with this scandal hanging over him.”

She added: “It is the gentlemanly thing to do.

“Andrew does not have anything gentlemanly about him but Fergie does.”

Prince William revealed last week that 45 royals will sit down for Christmas Day dinner together at Sandringham.

Last year was Sarah Ferguson’s first appearance on the traditional Royal Family walk to church in more than 30 years.

Following the Jeffrey Epstein scandal, the King has removed Andrew’s funding and private ­security and has tried to force him out of 31-room Royal Lodge.

But the Duke has mysteriously found ways to fund his lifestyle to remain there — and secured a cut-price security deal.

After Yang’s anonymity was lifted, it was revealed he had helped to broker a deal with Gordonstoun — the private school attended by Charles and Andrew — to open campuses in China and Hong Kong.

It was conducted through his Hampton Group International, which reportedly signed a deal with the school in 2019.

Plans were delayed by Covid, The Daily Telegraph reported.

But last night the school said it had axed involvement with the company.

Yang had previously worked as a civil servant in China before coming to the UK, setting up a tourism business then branching out into other areas.

After he was named yesterday he released a statement insisting he was innocent of claims against him.

Andrew does not have anything gentlemanly about him but Fergie does

Ingrid Seward, editor-in-chief of Majesty Magazine

He said: “I have done nothing wrong or unlawful and the ­concerns raised by the Home Office against me are ill-founded.

“The widespread description of me as a ‘spy’ is entirely untrue.

“I have been excluded from ­seeing most of the evidence that was used against me.

“Decisions are made based on secret evidence and closed proceedings.

“The political climate has changed, and unfortunately, I have fallen victim to this.

“When relations are good, and Chinese investment is sought, I am welcome in the UK.

“When relations sour, an anti-China stance is taken, and I am excluded.

“I am an independent self-made entrepreneur and have always aimed to foster partnerships and build bridges between East and West.

“I have dedicated my professional life in the UK to building links between British and Chinese businesses.

“I built my private life in the UK over two decades and love the country as my second home.

“I would never do anything to harm the interests of the UK.”

Buckingham Palace declined to comment last night.