King Charles may have sent Prince William a hidden message about how to handle a brother when relations become strained, according to royal experts.

The Monarch's youngest brother Prince Andrew has been embroiled in unsavoury headlines in recent years, but the King offered a rare signal last year showing he reportedly still willing to offer a "second chance".

On Christmas Day Prince Andrew joined the Royal Family, including the King, Queen and the Wales family at Sandringham, striding out alongside his ex-wife Sarah Ferguson.

The Duchess of York was also making her first appearance on December 5 in 30 years, although she was often said to have been a favourite of the late Queen Elizabeth, alongside her former husband.

Robert Jobson, author of the new book 'Catherine, the Princess of Wales: The biography', wrote for the Daily Mail that the significance of Prince Andrew being invited to Chritmas was actually not about him, but a message from the King to Prince William about Prince Harry.

Mr Jobson wrote for MailOnline: “Perhaps the King is subliminally trying to show William forgiving one's brother and giving him a second chance is a strength, not a weakness. Prince William disagrees – and as for his own brother, as far as he is concerned there is no way back.”

Prince Harry and his wife Meghan have stepped back from royal duties and moved to California where they now live with their two children, Prince Archie and Princess Lilibet.

But it was the release of an interview with talkshow host Oprah Winfrey, a bombshell tell-all memoir and a Netflix doc-series that have seemingly driven the Sussexes apart from the Firm in recent years.

Royal Christmases traditionally feature the greeting of people outside the church, and a family lunch with turkey and all the trimmings. Sandringham House has been the private home of four generations of British monarchs for more than 160 years, and now belongs to the King.

Before Christmas 2023, there was speculation the Sussexes could be invited to Sandringham for the festive period. Following a "warm" phone call between Harry and his father in November for the King's birthday it was claimed the couple was keen to return to the UK for Christmas.

It was later said Harry felt "irritated" when he saw his uncle, Prince Andrew, included in the televised broadcast of the Sandringham walkabout.

Earlier this week the Mirror reports it was claimed Prince William gave his brother the "opposite of an acknowledgement" and a "barrier gesture" during a rare royal event together, according to a body language expert.

In 2022, the feuding brothers attended a service of thanksgiving for the late Queen at St Paul's Cathedral during her Platinum Jubilee celebrations in what was Harry and wife Meghan's first public appearance at a royal event since quitting the monarchy.

Despite coming together at the same event, the pair were seated far apart and were not seen chatting or even standing next to each other.

Despite the distance, body language expert Judi James told the Mirror, William adopted a "barrier gesture" as he and wife Kate walked past the pew where his brother sat on the way to his seat.