Prince William and Kate Middleton skip King Charles’ pre-Christmas lunch

Prince William and Kate Middleton skipped the royal family’s annual pre-Christmas lunch at Buckingham Palace today.

A palace source told The Times UK that the Prince and Princess of Wales were already in Norfolk for the start of the holidays.

Their children Prince George (11), Princess Charlotte (9) and Prince Louis (6) are with them and will not be at lunch either.

The source said William and Kate’s absence had nothing to do with the news that Prince Andrew had pulled out of the event due to his connection to a suspected Chinese spy.

King Charles III, 76, was photographed arriving at the palace in a car with his private secretary for his pre-Christmas lunch.

Prince Edward, Duke of Edinburgh and Sophie, Duchess of Edinburgh were also spotted having lunch.

The festive party takes place every year about a week before Christmas, and traditionally around 70 guests are present.

Last year, Charles hosted the celebration at Windsor Castle, but he has brought it back to Buckingham Palace, where it was held almost always during the reign of the late Queen Elizabeth II.

While William, 42, and Kate, 42, are skipping lunch, a Kensington Palace source confirmed that the couple and their children will be in Sandringham next week to attend church with the family on Christmas Day.

On Wednesday it was confirmed that 64-year-old Andrew would not be attending his brother’s pre-Christmas lunch.

People reported that the Duke of York “made the decision after discussing the matter with his ex-wife Sarah Ferguson,” who also stayed away from the event.

Ferguson, 65, reportedly told Andrew that not going to lunch was “the right move” because of his involvement in the Chinese spy scandal.

The former couple are also skipping the royal family’s Christmas celebrations at their Sandringham estate next week.

Instead, Andrew and Ferguson will reportedly stay at home at the Royal Lodge in Windsor Park.

One of Andrew’s former employees, identified as businessman Yang Tenbo, has been accused of being a Chinese spy who was banned from entering the UK for security reasons.

Court documents have reportedly revealed that Yang had an “unusual level of trust” in Andrew and had the authority to act on his behalf in business dealings with Chinese investors.

Yang has denied the espionage allegations against him.

Andrew, meanwhile, has insisted that “nothing sensitive” was discussed with the Chinese businessman and that their meetings took place “through official channels”.

Andrew also said he had “stopped all contact” with the alleged spy.