Prince Andrew avoids King Charles' Christmas feast amidst controversy over Chinese espionage affair.

King Charles hosted a holiday event on Thursday, but Prince Andrew was unable to attend due to the criticism he faced.

Prince Andrew was reported by Sky News to have recently communicated with a suspected Chinese spy. Despite his office issuing a statement last week stating that he had severed ties with a Chinese businessman deemed a threat to British national security on the advice of officials, it was revealed that the two had never discussed anything of a sensitive nature.

Despite not attending Charles' pre-Christmas lunch, Andrew's daughters, Princess Beatrice and Princess Eugenie, were present. However, the princesses, along with Andrew and ex-wife Sarah Ferguson, will not be attending the royal family Christmas at Sandringham on Dec. 25, according to People Magazine.

The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge, along with their three children, were not present at the Dec. 19 lunch. They are reportedly already in Norfolk, where Sandringham is located, preparing for Christmas.

Prince Andrew reportedly opted out of the pre-Christmas lunch on Dec. 19 following counsel from his former spouse.

"Although the Duchess made mistakes in the past, she knows how social situations will unfold, according to royal biographer Ingrid Seward. She advised Harry to stay away, and Beatrice would have supported her in that decision."

Yang Tengbo, a Chinese businessman, was publicly named for the first time after High Court restrictions were lifted Monday on an anonymity order previously barring the release of his name. Yang was described as a "close confidant" of Prince Andrew's, but in a statement released Monday to Sky News he said the "widespread description of me as a 'spy' is entirely untrue."

Instead of attending the royal family Christmas, Prince Andrew and Duchess Ferguson will likely spend the holiday together at Royal Lodge – their home on the Windsor Castle estate.

The divorced couple, who split in 1996, will be reunited with their two daughters, according to People.

In 2022, Jeffrey Epstein's controversial friendship with Prince Andrew led to the stripping of his royal title.

The Duke of York, although eighth in line to the throne, is no longer a senior working royal.

In a 2019 interview with the BBC, Andrew admitted that he regrets staying with Epstein and that it was not befitting of a member of the royal family. He lamented that he had let the side down by not upholding the highest standards and practices.

In 2019, Epstein took his own life following his indictment on federal charges of sex trafficking and conspiracy.

Planet Chronicle Digital's Tracy Wright contributed to this report.