Prince Andrew has decided not to attend tomorrow's pre-Christmas lunch at Buckingham Palace, following discussions with his former wife, Sarah, Duchess of York.
The Duke's last-minute withdrawal comes after consultations with his ex-wife, who persuaded him not to attend.
The gathering at Buckingham Palace is expected to host 70 members of the Royal Family.
Royal officials were uncertain about the Duke's attendance until the last moment, before his final decision was made.
Prince Andrew has decided not to attend tomorrow's pre-Christmas lunch at Buckingham Palace, following discussions with his former wife, Sarah, Duchess of York.
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The Duke's absence will likely come as a relief to King Charles III amid ongoing controversy over Andrew's alleged spy connections.
Andrew will also not attend the Royal Family's Christmas celebrations at Sandringham next week.
The Mail reported that Andrew had insisted he had every right to attend the event. He is said to have told friends "he should be there" prior to his decision not to attend.
Royal aides were said to be relieved on Monday after it was revealed the Duke of York had decided to spare his brother's blushes by pulling out of the official festive celebrations and the walk to church at Sandringham next week amid the furore over his association with an alleged spy.
Sarah Ferguson will also be absent from the pre-Christmas lunch on Thursday.
GettyHowever, each year the monarch also invites his large extended family including aunts, uncles, cousins, nieces, nephews who don't make the cut to Sandringham, to meet up for a big festive meal in London.
Sources said on Tuesday that they still had 'no idea' whether Andrew will show up and may not even be sure until they see who pulls up at the gates.
The lunch is private, but guests are usually photographed going in and out of the palace gates.
A statement from the Duke of York's office addressed the spy allegations on Friday, saying: "The Duke of York followed advice from His Majesty's Government and ceased all contact with the individual after concerns were raised."
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Earlier this week it was announced that Prince Andrew and Sarah Ferguson had withdraw from the annual gathering at Sandringham.
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The statement added: "The Duke met the individual through official channels with nothing of a sensitive nature ever discussed. He is unable to comment further on matters relating to national security."
Earlier this week it was announced that Prince Andrew and Sarah Ferguson had withdraw from the annual gathering at Sandringham.
Prince Andrew and Sarah Ferguson will instead spend December 25 at their shared home, Royal Lodge, on the Windsor estate, where they continue to live together despite their 1996 divorce.
The couple had initially been expected to stay at Wood Farm on the Sandringham estate, as they did last year when Ferguson made her first public appearance at the royal Christmas in three decades.
