Prince Andrew ‘honourably withdrew’ from joining the Royal Family for the annual gathering in Sandringham last Christmas to avoid being a distraction.
It came after an alleged Chinese spy, linked to the Duke of York, was named following a High Court judgment.
The duke has, however, been allowed to join King Charles, Queen Camilla and other members of the family at Balmoral despite the string of sordid revelations about him in a devastating new book serialised by the Daily Mail.
Historian Andrew Lownie’s book, Entitled: The Rise And Fall Of The House Of York, details the duke’s close friendship with convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein and his mysterious financial dealings with foreign billionaires, as well as making claims about his ‘bullying’ of palace staff, vulgar sense of humour and brazen sex life.
‘Andrew arrived at Balmoral on Friday,’ a source on Royal Deeside tells me. ‘He was on his own, with none of the security he used to have. He is believed to be staying at a lodge on the estate.’
The source claims that the duke’s ex-wife, Sarah, Duchess of York, and their daughters, Princesses Beatrice and Eugenie, will join him later this week.
The King, left, received an official welcome to Balmoral Castle yesterday, marking the start of his summer holiday. Wearing a tweed jacket and a tartan kilt, the King inspected a Guard of Honour formed of Balaklava Company, 5th Battalion, The Royal Regiment of Scotland during a ceremony outside the Castle Gates. He also greeted their mascot, Shetland pony Corporal Cruachan IV.
The Queen was not with her husband but on a shopping trip with her daughter, Laura, and her grandchildren in the nearby Aberdeenshire village of Ballater.
Although the King received his official welcome at the castle, the source claims he will continue to spend much of his holiday at Birkhall, his beloved retreat on the Balmoral estate: ‘It remains to be seen whether Andrew spends any time at all with his brother.’
Prince Andrew (pictured after the Easter Matins service at St George’s Chapel in Windsor Castle in April) ‘honourably withdrew’ from joining the Royal Family for the annual gathering in Sandringham last Christmas to avoid being a distraction
The duke has, however, been allowed to join King Charles (pictured inspecting the Balaklava Company, 5th Battalion, The Royal Regiment of Scotland, at the gates of Balmoral on Monday), Queen Camilla and other members of the family at Balmoral
Kate shows she’s still up for a party in Ibiza
When she set up her ‘wellness’ business Cosmoss, Kate Moss insisted that her hard-partying days were over.
But the supermodel, 51, has since closed it down and appears to have embraced her wild side again on holiday in Ibiza.
She looked worse for wear on a night out with actress Jaime Winstone, 40.
A dishevelled-looking Kate embraced the daughter of Hollywood hardman Ray Winstone in a picture shared online.
The pair were spotted aboard a yacht off the Spanish party island with Kate’s daughter, Lila, and her boyfriend.
Kate Moss looked worse for wear on a night out with actress Jaime Winstone, 40 (pictured together)
Royal school goes on market for £5m
It’s an immense Grade II listed house of some 68,500 sq ft, has indoor and outdoor swimming pools, squash and tennis courts, not to mention multiple royal and aristocratic connections.
And now it is up for sale, along with 39 acres of landscaped gardens and woodland for £5million – the sort of sum which might just about buy a modest house in Chelsea, west London.
But there is a drawback or two – namely, the less than beautiful teaching blocks which sprouted in the grounds at what was, until just a few weeks ago, Queen Margaret’s School for Girls in York.
Alma mater of the Duchess of Kent, novelist Winifred Holtby and businesswoman Amanda Staveley, it went into administration last month, the latest casualty of Labour’s decision to load VAT on school fees which, at Queen Margaret’s, rose to £49,000 before VAT.
The building (pictured) that was, until just a few weeks ago, Queen Margaret’s School for Girls in York is now up for sale
Pre-birthday bash for Amelia
Princess Anne’s 75th wasn’t the only royal birthday celebrated at the weekend. Amelia Windsor, who turns 30 soon, marked the occasion at a fashionable bar in London’s East End.
The Duke and Duchess of Kent’s granddaughter partied at Bonkers Bar, which is influenced by Charlie and the Chocolate Factory and promises ‘a world of pure intoxication’.
Lady Amelia could be seen blowing out the candles on her cake in this picture she posted online. She wrote: ‘Before birthday boogie.’
Amelia Windsor (pictured), who turns 30 soon, marked the occasion at a fashionable bar in London’s East End
Discussing how she remains in fine fettle in her tenth decade, actress Dame Sheila Hancock proudly reveals: ‘I’m 92, I do the gym. I walk a long way, I do exercises.’
When it comes to romance, however, the widow of Inspector Morse star John Thaw cheekily clarifies: ‘I don’t want any more… I only want 18-year-old boys, and they’re not going to be interested.’
Not sure a man of her age would get away with that remark!
Dame Sheila Hancock (pictured in November last year), 92, said she still goes to the gym and exercises regularly
Having worked for her father Sir Rocco’s hotel empire, Irene Forte is accustomed to nice interiors.
Now, the skincare entrepreneur, 36, admits that in her Grade II-listed house in Kensington her daughter Alisea, two, and son Alexis, one, are banned from what many consider the family room.
She says the sitting room – adorned with a pistachio velvet sofa – ‘is where the kids are not allowed… with two young kids and a big dog, things get ruined quite quickly’.
Having worked for her father Sir Rocco’s hotel empire, Irene Forte is accustomed to nice interiors (pictured together in 2016)
He’s made numerous television appearances, including Millionaire Age Gap, for which, aged 73, he was paired with a 38-year-old firecracker called Ivana.
But those fearing Sir Benjamin Slade had graced our screens for the final time at Maunsel House – which, as I disclosed last week, is to be leased to a hotel group – can relax.
‘I’ve done another programme,’ baronet Sir Benjy, 79, tells me. ‘Called Handcuffed. Channel 4. I had to be handcuffed to a prison warden from London.’ Time, surely, to squeeze in a repeat with Ivana?
Those fearing Sir Benjamin Slade (pictured at home at Maunsel House) had graced our screens for the final time at Maunsel House – which, as I disclosed last week, is to be leased to a hotel group – can relax
