Prince Andrew ‘ceased all contact’ with man accused of being a Chinese spy after concerns raised
The Duke of York has confirmed that he "ceased all contact" with a businessman, known only as H6, who is accused of being a Chinese spy. This happened as soon as concerns were raised about him, according to a statement from his office. Andrew had met the individual through "official channels" and there was "nothing of a sensitive nature ever discussed".
H6, who was described as a "close confidante" of The Duke, lost an appeal over a decision to bar him from entering the UK on national security grounds. This followed a case brought to the Special Immigration Appeals Commission (SIAC) after then-home secretary Suella Braverman said in March 2023 that he should be excluded from the UK.
In a briefing for the home secretary in July 2023, officials claimed that H6 had been able to generate relationships between prominent UK figures and senior Chinese officials "that could be leveraged for political interference purposes".
READ MORE: ‘Heartbroken’ wife of England rugby star Tom Voyce pays devastating tribute after his death
They also suggested that H6 had downplayed his relationship with the Chinese state, which combined with his relationship with Andrew, 64, represented a threat to national security.
A statement from Andrew's office read: "The Duke of York followed advice from His Majesty's Government and ceased all contact with the individual after concerns were raised. The Duke met the individual through official channels with nothing of a sensitive nature ever discussed. He is unable to comment further on matters relating to national security."
In a hearing back in July, the specialist tribunal heard that the businessman was informed by Andrew's adviser that he could represent the duke when liaising with potential investors in China. It was also mentioned that H6 had been invited to Andrew's birthday party in 2020.
A letter from the adviser, Dominic Hampshire, referencing the birthday party was found on H6's devices when he was stopped at a port in November 2021. On Thursday, Mr Justice Bourne, Judge Stephen Smith and Sir Stewart Eldon dismissed the challenge.
Tom Tugendhat, the Conservative MP for Tonbridge who served in the Cabinet as minister of state for security under the previous government, told BBC Radio 4’s Today programme on Friday: “The United Front Work Department which is a branch of the Communist Party is seeking influence across the UK in everything across social, academic, financial, industrial, and various other ways.”
When asked whether Prince Andrew’s advisers should have been aware of H6, Mr Tugendhat said: “It’s not immediately obvious, it could be someone who’s British who’s working in China and who’s come under the influence, so it’s not quite as black and white as it may first appear – but it’s certainly extremely embarrassing.
“It demonstrates I’m afraid that the Chinese state is extremely clear that what its ambition is is to secure influence over foreign countries.
“They always talk about no interference in other people’s business when people talk about human rights in China, but they do nothing but interfere in the UK and in many countries across the world.”
