King Charles is set to kick off the Christmas festivities with his annual pre-Christmas Palace lunch. However, not all members of the royal family will be in attendance. This year, Kate Middleton, Prince William, and their three children - Prince George, 11, Princess Charlotte, 9, and Prince Louis, 6 - will not be present. The Prince and Princess of Wales were never expected to attend the lunch at Buckingham Palace on Thursday, December 19, as they are already in Norfolk, more than 100 miles away from London, ahead of the royal family's private Christmas celebrations at the Sandringham Estate.

Royal Family Gatherings and Traditions

The royal family's Christmas lunch is a private family gathering that King Charles has continued from his late mother Queen Elizabeth's reign. Dozens of family members convene about a week before Christmas for the upbeat holiday meal at Buckingham Palace in London. From there, the late Queen would head to Sandringham House, her private estate in the Norfolk countryside, and step out for church at St. Mary Magdalene on Christmas Day with her family in tow.This year, however, the focus is on the absence of certain members. Prince Andrew and Sarah Ferguson canceled their appearance at the Christmas luncheon due to the backlash around the Duke of York's suspected connection to an alleged Chinese "spy." The Duke of York reached the decision after discussing the matter with his ex-wife, and his daughters, Princess Beatrice and Princess Eugenie, also supported his choice.Despite not being working royals, Prince Andrew still joins his family for major ceremonial events and holiday celebrations. But this Christmas, due to the spy scandal, he and his family will not be at Sandringham.Beatrice, 36, and Eugenie, 34, had invitations to spend Christmas with their respective in-laws and have decided to do so. Their parents, Prince Andrew and Sarah Ferguson, will likely keep a low profile at Royal Lodge, their home on the grounds of Windsor Castle.

Prince Charles' Christmas Lunch

King Charles hosted several members of the royal family for Christmas lunch at Buckingham Palace. This includes his younger brother Prince Edward and his wife Sophie, the Duchess of Edinburgh. They were seen arriving at the palace on Thursday, adding to the festive atmosphere.While some family members are present, others are absent. The absence of Kate Middleton, Prince William, and their children is notable. They are enjoying their time in Norfolk, preparing for the Christmas season in their own way.This year's Christmas celebrations at Buckingham Palace are a reminder of the traditions and dynamics within the royal family. Despite the challenges and scandals, the family comes together in some form to celebrate the holiday.

Prince Andrew's Situation

Prince Andrew has been under intense scrutiny this year due to the alleged "spy" scandal. Since December 13, when it emerged that he had close professional ties to a Chinese national alleged to be a spy, he has been in the spotlight.A British court upheld an existing decision to ban the man from the UK on national security grounds, drawing attention to Andrew's reported relationship. The businessman, initially codenamed only as H6 and later named as Yang Tengbo (also known as Chris Yang), became a close confidant of the Duke of York and allegedly earned "an unusual degree of trust" from the royal.Yang denied any wrongdoing, and Buckingham Palace did not comment as Andrew is not a working royal. The Duke of York took a forced step back from public duties following his Newsnight interview in November 2019 about his speculated connection to convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein.In January 2022, Queen Elizabeth stripped him of his military titles and patronages amid Virginia Roberts Giuffre's civil sexual assault lawsuit. An out-of-court settlement was reached in February.Looking ahead to December 25, it is clear that the spy scandal will continue to impact the royal family's Christmas plans. Prince Andrew and his family will not be at Sandringham, but they will still be part of the royal family in their own way.