Prince Andrew looks chipper as he rides through the Windsor estate - weeks after 'Chinese spy' scandal kept royal away from Sandringham festivities
- Prince Andrew was snapped in Windsor weeks after the 'scandal'
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Prince Andrew has been snapped at the stables on Monday - weeks after he was embroiled in a scandal involving an alleged 'Chinese spy'.
The Duke of York, 64, was seen smiling as he headed out for a morning ride on his horse in Windsor for the first time since early December last year.
Andrew was seen alongside what appears to be a horse groom - who is a member of staff responsible for the care and welfare of animals, alongside maintaining the stables and riding equipment.
The father of Princesses Beatrice and Eugenie looked to be in high spirits on his glossy bay horse. A love of horseback riding is something he has in common with his sister, Princess Anne, who is famously a huge fan of equestrian sports.
Andrew wrapped up warm in the brisk January weather donning a navy waterproof jacket paired with a sweatshirt and black trousers.
The royal was also photographed appearing to sport a somewhat serious look while driving around his Range Rover.
It is the first time King Charles' brother has been seen this year - since he was urged to 'do the right thing' and uninvite himself from the Royal Family's Christmas lunch after his alleged decade-long friendship with an alleged Chinese spy was uncovered.
Yang Tengbo, is said to have become a 'close' confidant of the Duke of York and has since been banned from entering the UK after an MI5 investigation.
The Duke of York, 64, was seen smiling as he headed out for a morning ride on his horse for the first time since early December last year
Mr Tengbo has denied being a spy or doing anything illegal. He challenged his ban at the Special Immigration Appeals Commission (SIAC) in July, but lost his appeal last week.
A statement from Prince Andrew's office in December said: 'The Duke of York followed advice from His Majesty's Government and ceased all contact with the individual after concerns were raised.
'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.'
The Daily Mail previously revealed that His Majesty didn't want to ban his sibling from attending but hoped he might 'do the decent thing' and decide to stay away in light of the growing spy scandal.
Andrew and his ex-wife Sarah Ferguson, who still lives with him at Royal Lodge in Windsor Great Park, spent Christmas Day together.
Sarah, who is known commonly as Fergie, is thought to have influenced her ex-husband's decision to not attend. The pair divorced in 1996 after separating in 1992, but the Duchess has remained close to her ex-husband.
The royal was also photographed appearing to sport a somewhat serious look while driving around his Range Rover
Andrew wrapped up warm in the brisk January weather donning a navy waterproof jacket paired with a sweatshirt and black trousers
Sarah Ferguson attends the Christmas Day service at St Mary Magdalene Church on December 25, 2023
Prince Andrew is pictured departing Westminster Abbey after the Coronation of King Charles and Queen Camilla in May 2023
The Mail's royal editor, Rebecca English said on Palace Confidential at the time: 'I've been told by sources on both sides of the fence that she has been instrumental in just being a small, still voice of calm in her dealings with her ex-husband and I've been told that the King does understand it's a very delicate situation.
'She has been very loyal to Andrew with all his difficulties over the years, but also to actually be fair to her, has been respectful to the King and the Queen and the late Queen Elizabeth.'
Speaking prior to the latest allegations, Fergie professed her undying support for her ex-husband, revealing that she is currently looking after him and 'won't let him down'.
She spoke to The Times last week and opened up about her personal experience of mental health problems among men and recently said she acted like a 'carer' when she lived with her father who she described as 'profoundly sad and struggling for many years'
Fergie added: 'I was left to look after a sad man, which is sort of what I'm doing now,' a possible reference to the relationship she has with her ex-husband Andrew.
Last week it emerged that Prince Andrew was also reported to the police after allegedly using a 'fake name' to register a company.
He used the pseudonym 'Andrew Inverness' when in 2002 he set up business Naples Gold Limited with sports retail tycoon Johan Eliasch.
Graham Smith, the chief executive of Republic, an anti-monarchy campaign group, has submitted a complaint to Scotland Yard to accuse the prince of using false information in documents filed to Companies House.
The Metropolitan Police is currently assessing the report to determine whether any further action is required.
Mr Smith told The Telegraph that Andrew 'must be held to the highest standards' and 'the royals appear to believe they can act with impunity'.
Andrew has used the pseudonym for four companies registered at Companies House.
It is thought to have derived from one of his less well-known titles, the Earl of Inverness, which was given to him by Elizabeth II in 1986 when he married Sarah Ferguson.
Mr Smith said: 'The apparent filing of false information with Companies House may seem trivial, but the UK faces serious issues of fraud committed in this way. While no such fraud is alleged here, surely Andrew must be held to the highest standards.'
