Prince Andrew Why the royal is at the heart of another 'scandal'

The royal family's Christmas Day walk from Sandringham House to St Mary Magdalene church in Norfolk is a longstanding tradition. But it has become a barometer of internal pressures - so all eyes will be on whether the Duke of York is among those walking alongside the king and queen this Christmas after the alleged Chinese spy controversy.

- Caroline Davies

Royal sources have reportedly revealed that Charles is still considering whether or not to ban his younger brother from this very public part of the royals' festivities, which annually attracts crowds of well-wishers. After the Jeffrey Epstein scandal, though Andrew did not walk to the 11am service in 2019, he was photographed walking side by side with Charles to an earlier private 9am service. It was clear acknowledgment of his family's firm support after his catastrophic Newsnight interview. He has been included since Charles's accession. His exclusion this year "would be confirmation that the relationship between the two had soured", said Craig Prescott, author of Modern Monarchy, out next year, and a lecturer at Royal Holloway, University of London. "That would be a clear sign of Charles, at least, wanting to try and diminish the issue."