Prince William and Kate Middleton are skipping the annual royal household pre-Christmas lunch at Buckingham Palace right this moment.
A palace supply informed The Instances UK that the Prince and Princess of Wales are already in Norfolk for the beginning of the vacations.
Their youngsters Prince George, 11, Princess Charlotte, 9, and Prince Louis, 6, are with them and in addition received’t be on the lunch.
The supply stated William and Kate’s absence has nothing to do with the information that Prince Andrew pulled out of the occasion amid his reference to an alleged Chinese language spy.
King Charles III, 76, was photographed arriving on the palace for his pre-Christmas lunch in a automotive along with his personal secretary.
Prince Edward, Duke of Edinburgh, and Sophie, Duchess of Edinburgh, have been additionally seen arriving on the lunch.
The festive occasion takes place yearly a couple of week earlier than Christmas, with round 70 company historically in attendance.
Final 12 months, Charles hosted the celebration at Windsor Fort, however he’s introduced it again to Buckingham Palace the place it was virtually at all times held below the late Queen Elizabeth II’s reign.
Whereas William, 42, and Kate, 42, are skipping the lunch, a Kensington Palace supply confirmed the couple and their youngsters shall be in Sandringham subsequent week for the household stroll to church on Christmas Day.
On Wednesday, it was confirmed that Andrew, 64, wouldn’t be at his brother’s pre-Christmas lunch.
Folks reported that the Duke of York “reached the decision after discussing the matter” along with his ex-wife, Sarah Ferguson, who can be skipping the occasion.
Ferguson, 65, reportedly informed Andrew that not going to the lunch amid his involvement in the Chinese language spy scandal “was the right move.”
The previous couple are additionally skipping the royal household’s Christmas celebrations at their property in Sandringham subsequent week.
As a substitute, Andrew and Ferguson allegedly will stay dwelling at Royal Lodge in Windsor Park.
One in every of Andrew’s former staffers, recognized as businessman Yang Tenbo, has been accused of being a Chinese language spy who was banned from coming into the UK for safety considerations.
Courtroom paperwork have reportedly revealed that Yang had an “unusual degree of trust” with Andrew and was licensed to behave on his behalf in enterprise dealings with Chinese language buyers.
Yang has denied the accusations of espionage leveled towards him.
Andrew, in the meantime, has insisted that “nothing of a sensitive nature” was mentioned with the Chinese language businessman and that their conferences had occurred “through official channels.”
Andrew has additionally stated he “ceased all contact” with the alleged spy.
