Palace responds to whether Prince Andrew will make a public appearance on Christmas Day

It has been reported Prince Andrew's first public appearance since stepping down from his royal duties will be on Christmas Day, when the royal family participates in their annual walk to church.

The second son of Queen Elizabeth was stood down earlier last month after his 'car-crash' BBC interview about his relationship with convicted sex trafficker, Jeffrey Epstein.

The Duke of York has not been seen in public since his resignation, and is said to be on leave at the Sandringham residence he shares with ex-wife Sarah Ferguson.

However, according to The Times' royal correspondent Roya Nikkhah, Andrew will be present for the royal Christmas Day tradition of attending church.

"[Prince Andrew] will join the Queen and the Royal Family for church at Sandringham, where crowds gather every year to see the royals, in what is set to be a litmus test of the public mood on Prince Andrew," Nikkhah wrote earlier in the week. Typically, the royal family members walk to the church, greeting well-wishers who wait for them to pass. Her Majesty usually travels separately in a car, accompanied by a family member.

Last year, it was Andrew who rode with the Queen the service, as Prince Philip was unable to attend. The move was interpreted as the Duke supporting his mother. However, if Andrew chooses to ride with the Queen again this year, rather than facing royal fans by walking, it may be interpreted differently.

Not long after his resignation, Prince Andrew was seen horse riding with Her Majesty around her Balmoral estate, viewed by some as a moment of solidarity between mother and son.

Nikkah also believes the presence of the prince may deter the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge from bringing along their two eldest children – Prince George, six, and Charlotte, four -- to their first service, due to safety concerns.

Express.co.uk contacted Prince Andrew's office to ask whether he would be attending the service in Sandringham, to which they responded: "We do not confirm in advance which members of the Royal Family will be with The Queen at Sandringham on Christmas Day."