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