Prince Andrew spotted at Buckingham Palace Christmas party - NEWS.com.au

The shamed Prince Andrew has been spotted attending the Queen’s annual Christmas party held for her staff at Buckingham Palace on Monday night.

The Duke of York, 59, was pictured arriving at the soiree, The Sun reported.

Prince Andrew was stripped of his royal duties last month after claims he allegedly had sex with a 17-year-old procured by his friend, ­billionaire US paedophile Jeffrey Epstein.

But Prince Andrew, who has denied any wrongdoing, has joined the Queen and other senior royals at the bash held for about 400 staff members each year.

Royal expert Phil Dampier said his attendance at the traditional event was proof family members were rallying around the Queen’s “favourite son”.

“The fact that Andrew has turned up to this Christmas event at Buckingham Palace today shows that he is being supported by the rest of the royal family,” Mr Dampier told Fabulous Digital.

“If he had not gone it would have looked terrible – like he was an outcast from his own relatives.

“The Queen in particular will have been anxious to show solidarity with her favourite son.”

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Mr Dampier added the timing of the event could be “awkward”, after Prince Charles had strong words with his younger brother.

“Prince Charles is said to have read the Riot Act to Andrew and told him to drop out of public life for the foreseeable future, and possibly permanently,” he said.

“So there might be a bit of friction between the brothers.

“Charles is fond of Andrew but realises his brother has to stop royal duties for the sake of the monarchy in the wake of the Epstein scandal, which is not going away and could get worse.

“You would love to be a fly on the wall and at Sandringham for Christmas – the royals certainly have a lot to talk about!”

Every year, the Queen pays for the staff party herself to thank her employees.

The Queen is also set to host a pre-Christmas turkey feast for extended family at the palace on Wednesday before going to Sandringham for the festive period.

It has been reported that Meghan Markle and Prince Harry will be absent from all of the Queen’s parties this week.

The Duke and Duchess of Sussex are set to stay out of the UK with baby Archie until the new year.

They are said to be spending Christmas with Meghan’s mum, Doria Ragland, at an unknown location abroad.

But their absence isn’t a snub and they have told the Queen about their plans.

“As the couple made clear a few weeks ago, they are taking some time away together as a family,” a source told The Sun.

“This means that they will miss Christmas events.”

The Sussexes are on a six-week break from royal duties.

Harry and Meghan have attended the annual staff Christmas party at Buckingham Palace in previous years.

This article originally appeared on The Sun and was republished with permission

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