Andrew’s close friendship with Jeffrey Epstein has plunged the Royal Family into its biggest crisis in two decades.

Tonight a royal source revealed: “There are discussions about Christmas day and a desire from many courtiers for Prince Andrew to stay away from the church, where he would be pictured with the rest of the family.

“There are now genuine concerns over sex abuse campaigners planning to be part of the crowds to jeer the Duke publicly.

“They know the world’s media would be there and it would end up dominating headlines of the day.

'QUEEN IS DEEPLY UPSET'

“There is no real fear from officials about the protest turning violent. It’s more about the further embarrassment it would cause to the Royal Family.”

But advisers fear the Duke of York will insist upon attending in his private role as a member of the royal family.

The source added: “The Queen is already deeply upset about this situation because she loves her son very much.

“It is hard to believe she would ever be able to bring herself to tell Andrew not to come, given they attend church together all the time.

“But there is a hope that he realises just how much worse the situation could become if he is the subject to a public protest on Christmas day so decides to stay away himself.”

The Sun revealed yesterday how Andrew secretly travelled to Sandringham for a major family summit with Prince Philip and Prince Charles – just hours before a Panorama interview with his accuser Virginia Giuffre piled more pressure on.

Charles is believed to have “read the riot act” to his brother and demanded he give up all duties for “the foreseeable future”.