Prince Andrew and ex-wife Fergie set to miss big Royal Christmas celebrations

The King has signalled that Prince Andrew and his ex wife Sarah, Duchess of York,will not be welcome at the royal family's traditional Christmascelebrations.

Sources close to Charles said he wanted to keep them at arm's length after it recently emerged the duchess had kept in contact with the paedophile Jeffrey Epsteinafter publicly denouncing him in 2011.

The source told the Sunday Times: "You can't sack someone from being your brother. But this year, if the duke and duchess were both to be as honourable [as last year], it would be very much for the best." The decision is being supported by the Prince of Wales, who is understood to be frustrated and concerned by the Yorks' behaviour causing long-term reputational risk to the Royals.

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The King has also made clear that he would prefer them to take an "out of sight, out of mind" approach for any future family occasions that the Yorks attend.

There were raised eyebrows earlier this month when the couple made a public entrance with rest of the royal family at the Duchess of Kent's funeral at Westminster Cathedral. After the service, Andrew was photographed trying to make light-hearted conversation with the Prince of Wales, who ignored his uncle.

The King has also made clear that he would prefer the couple, who divorced in 1996, to be "invisible" at future family occasions, by arriving and leaving through discreet entrances where possible.

Andrew stayed away last Christmas after his links to an alleged Chinese spy, Yang Tengbo, emerged. After seeing the King reconciled with his younger son earlier this month, Prince Andrew might have been hoping that spirit of forgiveness would extend to himself.

But Charles's willingness to excuse the Duke of York and his former wife, Sarah, Duchess of York, for past actions which continue to overshadow the monarchy appears to have reached its limit. Friends of the duchess said yesterday she was "devastated for any embarrassment" caused and would "explain herself to the wider royal family in due course".

Last week it emerged that the duchess had emailed Jeffrey Epstein, the late convicted paedophile, describing him as a "supreme friend" and apologising for having publicly criticised him.

In an interview in March 2011, Sarah said she had made a "terrible, terrible error of judgment" in accepting £15,000 from Epstein, adding: "I abhor paedophilia." But last weekend it was revealed that a few weeks later she sent Epstein an email apologising for publicly criticising him, calling him her "steadfast, generous and supreme friend".

The duchess wrote: "As you know I did not, absolutely not, say the P [paedophile] word about you ... I know you feel hellaciously let down by me. And I must humbly apologise to you and your heart for that."

The late Virginia Giuffre claimed she had sex with Andrew at the behest of Epstein. The Prince has repeatedly and vehemently denied her claims.