To the king Charles' brother Prince Andrew, has reportedly refused to walk the late Queen's corgi as he struggles with feelings of demoralisation.

The Duke of York will skip Christmas with the King to avoid the spotlight over his relationship with alleged Chinese spy Yang Tengbo.

Prince Andrew has since claimed he cut ties with Yang Tengbo following government advice, denying sensitive discussions.

Andrew is reportedly so discouraged by his current situation that he refuses to walk Queen Elizabeth II's corgi, which he inherited after her death.

Instead, the Duke reportedly leaves the task to footmen, who walk the corgis along with the five dogs he co-owns with his ex-wife Sarah Ferguson around Windsor Castle.

"He's so depressed and demoralized that he hasn't even been able to motivate himself to walk the dogs," the insider said. The sun. "He used to do it regularly, but recently he can't even bring himself to go out."

The news follows reports that Andrew will not attend Christmas festivities with King Charles amid controversy surrounding his alleged links to a Chinese spy.

Sources suggest the Duke voluntarily skipped the traditional gathering in Norfolk to avoid drawing further attention to the matter. The Duchess of York also agreed to skip the event.

According to Daily MailCharles did not ban Andrew from attending the royal Christmas celebrations, but hoped that his brother would voluntarily withdraw, given the ongoing Chinese spies controversy.

The King and Queen are believed to have hoped Ferguson could help keep the holiday spirit alive, and it appears she has stepped in.

In an interview, the Duchess of York described herself as "caring for a sad man", expressing her affection for the king and her gratitude for his continued kindness.

Meanwhile, Andrew's daughters, Princess Beatrice and Princess Eugenie, have reportedly decided to spend Christmas with their in-laws this year, a rare opportunity to do so after several years.

According to BBCearlier this month, Andrew said that after receiving government advice, he cut ties with Yang Tengbo, a businessman accused of being a Chinese spy.

His office clarified that Tengbo was introduced through official channels and that "nothing of a sensitive nature was ever discussed".

Reports also indicate that Tengbo has attended royal events at the Duke's invitation, including Buckingham Palace, Windsor Castle and St James's Palace.

However, the time frame of their association remains undisclosed. In November 2021, police intercepted and questioned Tengbo at the UK border, invoking powers to investigate potential "hostile activity" linked to a foreign country.

During the encounter, Tengbo handed over several electronic devices, including a mobile phone. The contents of these devices reportedly caused considerable alarm within MI5, prompting then Home Secretary Suella Braverman to exercise extraordinary powers.

Following the National Security Court ruling, Tengbo was banned from entering the UK.

Meanwhile, Home Secretary Yvette Cooper assured the public that the government is "always ready to take action" on "any kind of challenge or threat to the UK's national security".

Tengbo, the alleged Chinese spy who has gained an unusual level of trust with Prince Andrew, has denied any wrongdoing, insisting he "did nothing wrong or illegal".

He rejected the espionage claims, attributing the accusations to rising political tensions between the UK and China.

After the court order protecting his identity was lifted, Yang issued a statement clarifying his position.

"Due to the high level of speculation and false reporting in the media and elsewhere, I have asked my legal team to reveal my identity," he claimed.

He added: "I have done nothing wrong or illegal and the concerns raised against me by the Home Office are unfounded. The widespread description of me as a 'spy' is completely false."

Tengbo's appeal against the 2023 ban was thrown out, with judges told he had tried to take advantage of Prince Andrew's connections.

It has been reported for some time that the King wants his brother out of the Royal Lodge; however, the Duke seemingly refused to leave.

Rumors then began to circulate that Charles would force his brother out of the venue, but a source has since denied the claims, noting that the monarch has no plans to kick disgraced Prince Andrew out of his royal box.

Sources close to the royal family claim that such a move is contrary to the king's personality and that their "blood ties" would prevent him from taking such action.

"The king is someone with a high level of integrity," the source said The Times. "There are people in the royal household who would take a more aggressive stance, but in that family, blood is thicker than water."