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

‘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 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