Prince Andrew says he 'ceased all contact' with alleged Chinese spy

Prince Andrew announced that he has ended all communication with a businessman who has been accused of being a Chinese spy, following guidance from the government.

In an announcement, his office stated that Prince Andrew encountered the individual "through formal avenues" and that "no sensitive topics were ever talked about."

The person accused of being a spy has been prohibited from entering the UK due to a decision made by the country's somewhat confidential national security court.

In court, the individual referred to as H6 was characterized as a "trusted associate" of Prince Andrew, having established a "remarkably high level of trust" with the duke.

In 2023, H6 challenged his original ban, but the court has confirmed the decision remains unchanged.

Judges were informed that the businessman was trying to use Prince Andrew's influence to his advantage.

The duke's office stated that he could not provide any additional comments regarding issues related to national security.

He didn't clarify when he stopped communicating with the individual or how long their exchanges lasted.

Buckingham Palace refused to provide any comments, stating that they do not represent the prince, as he is not an active member of the royal family.

China's embassy in the UK has rejected the accusation of espionage, stating that "certain people in the UK are constantly looking to create unfounded 'spy' narratives aimed at China."

A spokesperson for the embassy stated, "Their goal is to tarnish China's image and hinder the usual interactions between Chinese and British officials."

In March 2023, an individual known as H6 presented his case to the Special Immigration Appeals Commission. This court was established to evaluate appeals concerning decisions to exclude or deport individuals from the country for reasons related to national security or similar issues.

In the official ruling, the judge stated that the former Home Secretary, Suella Braverman, had the right to determine that [H6] posed a threat to the national security of the United Kingdom. The judge further indicated that the home secretary was justified in her decision to exclude him and that this action was reasonable given the circumstances.

The decision clearly indicates that the individual had undergone extensive national security scrutiny because the UK's intelligence services were concerned he was attempting to gain influence over a member of the Royal Family.

The court heard that H6 received an invitation to Prince Andrew's birthday celebration in 2020 and was informed that he could represent the prince in discussions with possible investors in China.

The details of how H6 developed a close relationship with the prince are uncertain. However, in November 2021, law enforcement officials detained him at the UK border and questioned him due to concerns about potential "hostile activity" from a foreign government.

During that halt, H6 gave up several electronic gadgets, including a cellphone.

The items that officers discovered raised serious alarms for the security service MI5, prompting Braverman to exercise her special authority to prohibit H6 from entering the country.

In a message discovered on one of his devices, H6 received a note from Dominic Hampshire, an advisor to Prince Andrew, stating: "Apart from the prince's most trusted inner circle, you are at the pinnacle of a hierarchy that numerous individuals aspire to reach."

Mr. Hampshire notes, "Thanks to your assistance, we managed to discreetly get the necessary individuals in and out of the house in Windsor."

The excerpt from the letter included in the ruling does not provide any additional information about the identity of the "relevant people."

Mr. Hampshire further informed H6 that he is able to represent Prince Andrew in discussions with possible partners and investors in China.

A paper outlining the key discussion topics for a conversation with Prince Andrew was also discovered.

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The court concluded that this indicated H6 had the ability to create connections between high-ranking Chinese officials and notable figures in the UK, which could be exploited by the Chinese government for political influence.

Security officials were concerned that Beijing might be trying to undertake an "elite capture" strategy to sway the Duke of York due to the significant pressure he faced. This tactic involves placing prominent figures in Chinese companies, think tanks, or universities to exert influence.

H6 later learned that UK officials suspected him of having connections to the United Front Work Department (UFWD), a division of the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) responsible for carrying out influence campaigns.

The decision stated that Ken McCallum, the Director General of MI5, had voiced worries about the risks to the UK from China's political meddling. It mentioned that organizations like the UFWD were engaged in persistent, well-financed, and deceptive efforts to gain influence and manipulate situations.

The Home Office stated that they suspected H6 was involved in secretive and misleading actions for the Chinese Communist Party and that his connection with Prince Andrew could be leveraged for political manipulation.

Supporting Braverman's ruling, the judges noted that H6 had earned an exceptional level of confidence from a high-ranking member of the Royal Family who was willing to engage in business ventures with him.

They remarked that the relationship grew during a period when the prince was facing significant stress, which might have made him susceptible to the potential exploitation of such influence.

Starting in late 2019, the prince began to come under greater examination due to his association with the late American financier and convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein. This included his widely criticized interview on Newsnight that took place in November of that year.