Prince William and Kate Middleton will not attend the annual royal family pre-Christmas lunch at Buckingham Palace today.
A source in the palace told The Times UK The Prince and Princess of Wales are already in Norfolk for the start of the holidays.
their children Prince George, 11, Princess Charlotte, 9, and Prince Louis, 6, are with them and won’t be at the lunch either.
Source says William and Kate’s absence has nothing to do with Prince Andrew news kicked out of event between his relationship with An alleged Chinese spy.
King Charles III, 76, was seen arriving at the palace for a pre-Christmas lunch in a car with his private secretary.
Prince Edward, Duke of Edinburgh and Sophie, Duchess of Edinburgh were also seen arriving for the lunch.
The festive party takes place every year about a week before Christmas, traditionally attended by about 70 guests.
Last year, Charles hosted the celebration at Windsor Castle, but he brought it back to Buckingham Palace, where it was almost always held during the reign of the late Queen Elizabeth II.
While William, 42, and Kate, 42, are skipping the lunch, a Kensington Palace source confirmed the couple and their children will be in Sandringham with family to attend church on Christmas Day next week.
On Wednesday, it was confirmed that Andrew, 64, would not be attending his brother’s pre-Christmas lunch.
People The report says the Duke of York “reached the decision after discussing the matter” with his ex-wife Sarah Ferguson, who is not attending the event.
Ferguson, 65, reportedly told Andrew he was not going to lunch amid their involvement Chinese espionage scandal “Was the right move.”
The former couple is also skipping royal family christmas celebration The following week at his estate in Sandringham.
Instead, Andrew and Ferguson will reportedly stay at home at the Royal Lodge in Windsor Park.
One of Andrew’s former employees, identified as businessman Yang Tenbo, has been accused of being a Chinese spy who was banned from entering the UK due to security concerns.
Court documents reportedly revealed that Yang had an “unusual level of trust” with Andrew and was authorized to act on his behalf in business transactions with Chinese investors.
Yang has denied the spying allegations against him.
Meanwhile, Andrew has insisted that “nothing of any sensitive nature” was discussed with the Chinese businessman and that their meetings took place “through official channels”.
Andrew has also said that he has “ceased all contact” with the alleged spy.
