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

Sean Coughlan, Dominic Casciani, and Frances Mao are the authors of the piece.

Prince Andrew announced that he has "ended all communication" with a businessman alleged to be a Chinese spy following guidance from the government.

In a statement, his office mentioned that Prince Andrew encountered the individual "through official means" and that "no sensitive topics were ever brought up."

The supposed spy has been banned from entering the UK after a decision made by the country's semi-secret national security court.

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

In 2023, H6 filed an appeal against his original ban, but the court has maintained its previous ruling.

The judges were informed that the businessman was trying to take advantage of Prince Andrew's connections.

The duke's office stated that he could not provide any additional remarks on issues concerning national security.

He didn't mention when he stopped talking to the man or how long they had been in touch.

Buckingham Palace chose not to provide a statement, explaining that they do not represent the prince, as he is not a member of the royal family undertaking official duties.

The Chinese embassy in the UK has dismissed the allegations of espionage, stating that "certain people in the UK are consistently quick to create unfounded 'spy' narratives aimed at China."

"Their aim is to tarnish China's reputation and interfere with the usual interactions between Chinese and British individuals," a representative from the embassy stated.

In March 2023, the previous home secretary, Suella Braverman, prohibited H6 from entering the UK.

He subsequently took his case to the Special Immigration Appeals Commission, a legal body established to review appeals concerning decisions to bar or deport individuals from the country due to national security or related issues.

In the decision that was made public, the judges confirmed Braverman's ruling.

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

The details of how H6 developed a close relationship with the prince remain uncertain. However, in November 2021, law enforcement officials halted him at the UK border and questioned him in connection with concerns regarding potential "hostile activity" linked to a foreign nation.

At that stop, H6 handed over several electronic gadgets, including a cell phone.

The discoveries officers made during their investigation alarmed the security service MI5 to such an extent that Braverman exercised her special authority to prohibit H6 from entering the country.

"Unexpected Trust Levels Explored"

In a message discovered on one of his devices, H6 received a note from Dominic Hampshire, a consultant to Prince Andrew, stating: "Aside from the prince's most trusted inner circle, you hold a position at the pinnacle of a hierarchy that numerous individuals aspire to be part of."

Mr. Hampshire mentioned, "Thanks to your direction, we were able to discreetly bring the necessary individuals in and out of the Windsor house."

The excerpt from the ruling doesn't provide any additional information about the identities of the "relevant people."

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

A document outlining the key discussion topics for a phone call with Prince Andrew was also discovered.

It emphasizes the need to be realistic about what to expect. It's crucial not to have overly high hopes because he is in a critical state and is likely to cling to any opportunity.

The court determined that this indicated H6 had the ability to establish connections between high-ranking Chinese officials and notable individuals in the UK, which could be used by the Chinese government for political manipulation.

The judges noted that H6 earned an unusual level of trust from a high-ranking member of the Royal Family, who was willing to collaborate with him on business ventures.

They mentioned that the relationship evolved during a period when the prince was facing a lot of stress, which could have made him more susceptible to being influenced improperly.

Starting in late 2019, the prince began to receive more and more attention for his connection to the late American financier and convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein. This scrutiny was heightened by his well-known interview on Newsnight in November of that year.

He withdrew from his royal responsibilities in November 2019, and since then, the prince has faced ongoing scrutiny regarding his decision-making and financial matters.

Concerns emerged regarding the prince's financial situation after he agreed to a settlement, reportedly amounting to millions, in a civil sexual assault lawsuit filed by Virginia Giuffre, one of the individuals who accused Epstein. The prince has consistently denied any wrongdoing towards Ms. Giuffre.

Security Officials Warned Of 'Elite Capture' Threat

Isabel Hilton, who is the editor at China Dialogue, mentioned to BBC News that Chinese state agents often aim to influence "members of the House of Lords, well-known business figures, or individuals who hold significant influence in their communities."

She mentioned that aiming for a royal was "rather bold" and suggested it was "not very smart" for someone in the Royal Family to let themselves be in the spotlight like that.

Security officials were concerned that Beijing was trying to carry out an "elite capture" strategy to sway the Duke of York due to his vulnerable position. This approach seeks to place prominent figures in key roles within Chinese companies, research institutions, or educational organizations.

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

The decision indicated that Ken McCallum, the head of MI5, voiced worries regarding the danger that political meddling from China presents to the UK. He noted that organizations like the UFWD are engaging in carefully planned, financially supported, and misleading efforts to gain and wield influence.

The Home Office expressed their belief that H6 was involved in secretive and misleading actions for the Chinese Communist Party (CCP), and that his connection with Prince Andrew might be exploited for political influence.