HEIR HE IS
Prince Andrew spotted driving with Fergie after ‘opting not to join’ Charles and family for Christmas
They also skipped the King's Christmas Day speech
PRINCE Andrew and his ex-wife Sarah Ferguson have been pictured together leaving Royal Lodge.
The Duke and Duchess of York, who lived together at the royal property despite being divorced, were spotted in the car today.
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They were making the short trip to Windsor Castle, on the same estate.
It comes after Andrew's older siblings King Charles and Princess Anne braved the chill to greet well-wishers after a Sandringham church service this morning.
The King and his younger sister attended the Sunday service at St Mary Magdalene.
Andrew and Fergie reportedly opted not to attend the annual Christmas lunch at the Norfolk estate amid Andrew's Chinese spy scandal.
The duke, 64, has been described as a "close confidant" of alleged Chinese spy Yang Tengbo.
It is thought the pair shared a friendship for more than 10 years with the latter being banned from the UK on national security grounds.
The Yorks are understood to have spent Christmas Day together.
They were previously seen that afternoon heading out in the car, just minutes before King Charles' speech to the nation was broadcast.
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Last week, biographer Andrew Lownie told The Sun's Royal Exclusive show: "I don't think he's (Prince Andrew) going to go to Sandringham ever again."
He added the other royals "need to distance themselves from him" to save any further embarrassment.
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Lownie described how the Prince had been "forced" out of the festive celebrations.
The Sun also published photos of the duke driving alone at Windsor as the rest of the family prepared to make the trip to Sandringham on December 23.
We also revealed the King's other brother Prince Edward and wife Sophie were "unhappy" at plans for them to share a cottage with Andrew over the festive period before he pulled out.
DISGRACED
Andrew, the late Queen's second son and supposed favourite child, has been kept in the royal shadows since his car crash Newsnight interview in 2019.
He refused to condemn his relationship with billionaire paedophile Jeffrey Epstein during the grilling from host Emily Maitlis and gave bizarre explanations when asked about alleged trafficking victim Virginia Giuffre.
There is some suggestion the Duchess of York talked Andrew out of going to the Firm's Christmas gathering.
GB News royal correspondent, Cameron Walker, also appearing on the Sun's Royal Exclusive show, said she may have realised how "publicly damaging this could be for the Firm", and the King has used her as his "trump card".
Mr Walker speculated that if things have died down by next year then perhaps Andrew could make a return to the formal Christmas lunch.
However, Mr Lownie cut in that he doesn't see Andrew ever stepping foot at Sandringham again.
"He needs to get out of view so people totally forget about him," he added.
Sun royal editor and show host, Matt Wilkinson, pointed out, however, Andrew appears to enjoy the limelight.
He said paparazzi shots often show him out and about, and he is usually almost "waving" at them.
Mr Lownie agreed that he is "so thick-skinned he doesn't realise this is terrible optics", adding: "I don't think he cares about embarrassing the rest of the Royal Family."
COMMENT: Spy scandal more damaging than Epstein for Andrew
The prince's biographer Andrew Lownie told The Sun's Royal Exclusive show this week the spy scandal is "probably the most damaging".
He said: "It's more damaging than Epstein. I think the story is going to run right through next year.
"He's always been much more vulnerable to the financial scandals in his life than the sexual ones.
"These stories haven't really been investigated. It's going to have to lead to greater transparency about royal finances.
"This has unlocked a whole series of events that I think are going to be very damaging to the monarchy.
"This is going to give fresh impetus to journalists to look into his financial affairs and how he affords to live in Royal Lodge.
"A lot more is still to come out. A lot has already come out in the past week about his activities.
"It's the tip of the iceberg. He's been scrounging money off people in the Middle East and Central Asia.
"When those stories come out, I think he's going to be complete toast.
"The danger is that he's going to bring the royal family down with him."
Charles, 76, wore a thick winter coat this morning paired with tailored trousers and an umbrella.
Anne wrapped up warm in a thick skirt, a matching jacket, black suede boots, a dark blue hat and a red scarf.
The pair were greeted by dozens of well-wishers lined up outside the church.
Charles and Anne were seen chatting with the Reverend Canon Paul Williams.
CHRISTMAS DAY
It comes after Charles hosted a whopping 45 people at Sandringham on Christmas Day.
His guests included Prince William, Princess Kate and their children George, Charlotte and Louis.
They were all pictured heading to the same church in the morning before enjoying their roast turkey with trimmings.
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In the evening, they are said to play parlour games like charades and bingo.
But it is not known whether they sit down around a TV to watch the King's Speech.
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