Prince Andrew 'keen to appear alongside Royal Family this week' as beleaguered duke weighs up decision

Instead, the scandal-hit prince will remain at Royal Lodge in Windsor with his ex-wife Sarah Ferguson, whilst his daughters Princesses Beatrice and Eugenie spend the day with their in-laws.

A source told The Sun of Andrew's defiant stance: "Andrew told friends that it's his family and so he should be there. It's a family occasion, why shouldn't he go?"

The pre-Christmas lunch is expected to draw significant attention, with photographs of the extended Royal Family arriving likely to be published worldwide.

Despite being urged to keep a low profile, the duke has privately pledged to attend Thursday's gathering at Buckingham Palace.

Andrew and Sarah's Christmas Day plans mark a departure from last year, when they attended festivities at the Norfolk Estate.

Their daughters have chosen to spend Christmas with their respective in-laws, with Beatrice and husband Edoardo Mapelli Mozzi expecting their second child early next year.

Eugenie and Jack Brooksbank, who split their time between the UK and Portugal, will also be absent from Sandringham with their sons August and Ernest.

Prince William recently revealed that 45 royals will gather for Christmas dinner at Sandringham this year.

The controversy stems from Andrew's decade-long connection to Yang Tengbo, a Chinese businessman who was banned from entering the UK last year after being deemed a security risk.

Yang, previously only identifiable as H6 until a High Court order was lifted, is accused of covert and deceptive activity on behalf of China.

Authorities were concerned his relationship with Andrew could be used for political interference.

The duke said on Friday he had "ceased all contact" with Yang.

Ingrid Seward, editor-in-chief of Majesty Magazine, suggested Sarah played a crucial role in Andrew's decision to skip Sandringham.

"She has a big influence on Andrew. He listens to her," Seward said. "She would have said, 'You can't do this to your brother.'"

Seward added that Fergie likely convinced Andrew to avoid embarrassing the King by walking to church amid the spy scandal.

"It is the gentlemanly thing to do. Andrew does not have anything gentlemanly about him but Fergie does," she noted.

Yang helped broker a deal with Gordonstoun, the private school attended by Charles and Andrew, to open campuses in China and Hong Kong through his Hampton Group International. The school has since axed involvement with the company following recent revelations.

In a statement, Yang insisted he was innocent, saying: "The widespread description of me as a spy is entirely untrue. I am an independent self-made entrepreneur and have always aimed to foster partnerships and build bridges between East and West."