Prince Andrew has taken a stand on whether or not he will attend the Royal Family's "pre-Christmas lunch" this week amid his recent spy scandal, it has been claimed.

Andrew, 64, has reportedly spoken to friends and has vowed that he will be in attendance at the royal lunch at Buckingham Palace on Thursday.

A source told The Sun: "[Prince] Andrew told friends that it’s his family and so he should be there. It’s a family occasion. Why shouldn’t he go?"

The news comes amid fresh controversy after Prince Andrew's relationship with an alleged Chinese spy came to light.

The Times reported that the man – who was banned from Britain by the Government on national security grounds - visited Buckingham Palace twice after receiving an invitation from the Duke of York.

The publication reports that King Charles didn't want to ban his brother from Sandringham - although hoped that he "do the decent thing" and stay away amid the spy scandal.

As well as the Duke and Sarah Ferguson, the former couple's daughters, Princess Beatrice and Princess Eugenie will also reportedly not spend Christmas with the King at the Norfolk estate.

The sisters are said to be spending the festive period with their husbands' families. Their decisions are said to have been made after having not had the chance to do so for several years.

Eugenie, 34, is married to Jack Brooksbank, with whom she she shares two sons. Beatrice shares three-year-old Sienna with her husband Edoardo Mapelli Mozzi. As well as being mum to their daughter, the 36-year-old is also a stepmum to Edoardo's eight-year-old son Wolfie.