Is Prince Andrew Crashing King Charles' Pre-Christmas Lunch?

King Charles and Prince Andrew both laugh while wearing suits — (Image credit: Getty Images/Anwar Hussein Collection/ROTA/WireImage)

Unfortunately, 2024 has been a somewhat tumultuous year for Prince Andrew. But that won't necessarily stop him from crashing the Buckingham Palace Christmas party.

Following news that one of Andrew's business associates was an alleged "Chinese spy," it was revealed that the Duke of York wouldn't be spending Christmas with the royals at Sandringham. Further reports alleged that King Charles is "finished" with his brother after yet another public scandal. However, the Duke reportedly wants attend King Charles' pre-Christmas lunch for the Royal Family at Buckingham Palace.

The annual event has been held at Windsor Castle in recent years following the COVID-19 pandemic, but will return to Buckingham Palace for 2024. According to the Express, "Prince Andrew is hoping to attend" his brother's pre-Christmas event, "despite opting to skip Royal Family celebrations in Sandringham." The special lunch will reportedly attract as many as 70 guests, including lesser known members of the Royal Family.

Prince Andrew wears his Order of the Garter robes and sits in a car in the rain — "Prince Andrew is hoping to attend" his brother's pre-Christmas event.

Prince Andrew and Sarah Ferguson are set to spend Christmas at their home, Royal Lodge in Windsor. Meanwhile, their daughters, Princess Beatrice and Princess Eugenie, will reportedly celebrate the holiday season with their respective in-laws.

In spite of Prince Andrew's recent scandals, his ex-wife Sarah Ferguson showed her support in an interview with The Sunday Times. "I was totally and utterly in love with Andrew," she told the outlet. "I would do it all over again, 100 percent." She continued, "He’s the best, a great man with a great heart, and kind."

Pledging her support for the future, Ferguson told the outlet, "I won’t let him down." She continued, "He supports me as much as I support him. He's supported me through thick and thin, not just marriage or divorce."

Prince Andrew wearing a coat and red tie standing in front of a crowd of people in coats and scarves on Christmas Day — Prince Andrew will spend Christmas at home with his ex-wife, Sarah Ferguson.

Following allegations that one of Prince Andrew's business advisors was a Chinese "spy," the royal released an official statement. "The Duke of York followed advice from HMG (His Majesty's Government) and ceased all contact with the individual after concerns were raised," the statement explained. "The Duke met the individual through official channels, with nothing of a sensitive nature ever discussed. He is unable to comment further on matters relating to national security."

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Amy Mackelden is the weekend editor at Marie Claire, where she covers celebrity and royal family news. She was the weekend editor at Harper’s BAZAAR for three years, where she covered breaking celebrity and entertainment news, royal stories, fashion, beauty, and politics. Prior to that, she spent a year as the joint weekend editor for Marie Claire, ELLE, and Harper's BAZAAR, and two years as an entertainment writer at Bustle. Her additional bylines include Cosmopolitan, People, The Independent, HelloGiggles, Biography, Shondaland, Best Products, New Statesman, Heat, and The Guardian. Her work has been syndicated by publications including Town & Country, Good Housekeeping, Esquire, Delish, Oprah Daily, Country Living, and Women's Health. Her celebrity interviews include Jennifer Aniston, Jessica Chastain, the cast of Selling Sunset, Emma Thompson, Jessica Alba, and Penn Badgley. In 2015, she delivered an academic paper at Kimposium, the world's first Kardashian conference.