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FEELING RUFF
Sulking Prince Andrew so dejected by fall from grace after spy scandal he is refusing to walk the late Queen’s corgis
He is now expected to spend a lonely Christmas at Royal Lodge with his ex-wife Sarah
SULKING Prince Andrew is so dejected by his fall from grace he is refusing to walk the late Queen’s corgis.
The disgraced Duke of York, 64, gets flunkies to take the beloved pets out into the grounds at Windsor instead.
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It comes after he was snubbed by royals amid links to an alleged Chinese spy.
He is now expected to spend a lonely Christmas at Royal Lodge with his ex-wife Sarah.
Two corgis belonging to Queen Elizabeth II were given to Andrew and his former wife Sarah Ferguson after the monarch’s death in September 2022.
The couple also have five other dogs requiring daily exercise — and Andrew now sends out flunkies to walk them all as he is so fed up.
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It comes after he was forced to hand back invites to the royals’ Christmas lunch due to his links to an alleged Chinese spy.
Onlookers said it appeared he had piled on the pounds when he was seen behind the wheel of his car this week.
It has also emerged that the fallen prince’s multiple public scandals have led Palace aides to dub him a “Duke of Hazard”.
Andrew is now expected to spend a lonely Christmas at his Royal Lodge home with former wife Sarah, who has described herself as his “carer”.
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An insider said: “He’s so down and demoralised he hasn’t even been able to get himself motivated to take the dogs for a walk.
“He used to do it regularly but recently he can’t even bring himself to go out.”
Andrew, who was stripped of his royal titles by the late Queen in 2022 amid accusations of sexual assault, has had yet another nightmarish 12 months.
He was humiliated by two big-budget TV shows dramatising his car-crash Newsnight interview and links to dead billionaire paedophile friend Jeffrey Epstein.
He has also spent months battling to prevent eviction by his brother Charles from Royal Lodge, where he lives with Fergie.
Fresh embarrassment was then recently heaped on the Royal Family after he was linked to a so-called Chinese spy, who has since been banned from the UK on national security grounds.
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The Royal Household is investigating claims Andrew invited him into Buckingham Palace, Windsor Castle and St James’s Palace.
MI5 is also said to be investigating allegations that Andrew received money from China.
Fergie has been credited with persuading her ex not to attend Thursday’s family lunch at Buckingham Palace or the Christmas Day festivities at Sandringham.
She also shed light on her domestic arrangements with “sad” Andrew in an interview.
Fergie told how she “became a carer for dad” when her sister Jane left for Australia.
She added: “I was left to look after a sad man, which is sort of what I’m doing now.”
Sarah is the owner of five Norfolk terriers and the couple have dual custody of corgis Muick and Sandy.
The two were given to the late Queen by Andrew to cheer her up during the Covid lockdown.
'Dukes of Hazard'
The monarch — who owned more than 30 corgis and dorgis throughout her life — was often joined by Fergie on walks around the grounds of Windsor Castle towards the end of her reign.
Meanwhile, Andrew faced further embarrassment last night when it emerged that he and Prince Harry are known as the “Dukes of Hazard” by Palace courtiers.
It comes after an avalanche of negative publicity surrounding the pair.
Amazon and Netflix have this year aired dramas about Andrew being accused of sexual assault by Virginia Giuffre, and the subsequent Newsnight interview he gave protesting his innocence.
Andrew has also steadfastly refused the King’s offer to move into nearby Frogmore Cottage, while his annual handout has been removed by his older brother.
This week, as the Chinese spy crisis intensified, Andrew cancelled an appearance with his family at a pre-Christmas lunch at the Palace on Thursday. He will also not be joining them at Sandringham on December 25.
Hurled barbs
It was also claimed last night that Prince Harry — the other “Duke of Hazard” — has had no contact with his father Charles or stepmother Queen Camilla.
Harry has repeatedly hurled barbs at the royals since he and wife Meghan quit royal duties for a life in the US.
They include accusations of racism in the Oprah Winfrey interview as well as embarrassing revelations in tell-all memoir Spare and six-part Netflix docuseries Harry and Meghan.
But, according to reports, the main reason for his father’s reluctance to get in touch is Harry’s court case against the Home Office for stripping his taxpayer-funded, round-the-clock armed security.
Harry is challenging the decision by Ravec, a committee including members of the Royal Household, and the King is reluctant to speak to his son until the case is completed.
There are fears within royal circles that if the prince speaks to his father about it and relays a conversation in court there would be “serious legal jeopardy” and it could collapse.
Charles gave his son just 30 minutes of his time when Harry flew to London after the King announced he had cancer this year.
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Harry was then refused a bed at Sandringham because aides feared “they’d never get rid of him”.
Around 43 royals will gather at Sandringham for Christmas Day
The Yorks are staying away while Harry and Meghan are said to be spending the festive season in California.
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