Pictured: Prince Andrew spotted with loyal Fergie as disgraced duke keeps away from traditional royal Christmas walkabout

Prince Andrew was seen with his loyal former wife today as the disgraced duke kept his distance from the traditional royal Christmas walk near Sandringham.

The Duke of York was seen today with Sarah Ferguson in a car in Windsor as other prominent royals joined in Norfolk to walk and speak to fans.

The Prince voluntarily agreed to pull out of the celebrations at Sandringham with Fergie, MailOnline revealed last week. 

Amidst the alleged Chinese spy scandal that Prince Andrew is linked to, Fergie is thought to have influenced her ex-husband's decision to not attend.

She did the family's festivities last year for the first time since 1992.

Sarah Ferguson yesterday shared her own Christmas message thanking everyone for their kindness and support this year as she walked the late Queen's corgis. 

The Duchess of York, wearing a black jacket and skirt, shared the video of her and the two dogs on her Instagram page on Christmas Eve.

In the video, the Duchess said the season was a time of reflection and offered 'a huge embrace of goodness' to all her supporters.

Ms Ferguson said in the video: 'It's a time of reflection and I just want to say thank you and a huge embrace of goodness and kindness to those of you who have been so kind and so supportive.

'People all over the world who are feeling low or sad [can] just take some joyous bubbles from us here, we're sending you so much.

'You must just keep showing light, turning to the light and finding the joy and saying thank you and I really think that's so important so, thank you.'

The Daily Mail previously revealed that His Majesty didn't want to ban his brother from attending but hoped he might 'do the decent thing' and decide to stay away in light of the growing spy scandal.

An alleged Chinese spy, 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.

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 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.'

Sarah Ferguson and Prince Andrew divorced in 1996 after separating in 1992, but the Duchess has remained close to her ex-husband.

'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,' Royal Editor Rebecca English said on Mail+'s Palace Confidential last week.

'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.'

Fergie still lives with her ex-husband at Royal Lodge in Windsor Great Park, Berkshire.