Prince Andrew, the younger brother of King Charles III, is facing renewed scrutiny after a British court barred a Chinese spy from entering the country over national security concerns. The man, identified only as “H6,” was described as a trusted associate of the Duke of York and had ties to the Chinese Communist Party.
The Special Immigration Appeals Commission issued the ruling on Thursday, concluding that H6 had established connections with influential British and Chinese officials. These relationships, the court noted, could have been exploited to spread Chinese influence. The man’s identity remains sealed pending a possible appeal.
Ties to Prince Andrew and business dealings
The Chinese man studied in Britain and later started a company advising British firms on investments in China. He also acted as an agent for Prince Andrew, who once served as the U.K.’s trade envoy.
In a 2021 letter found on H6’s phone, Dominic Hampshire, an adviser to Andrew, authorized the man to represent the prince when dealing with potential investors in China.
The letter highlighted the man’s closeness to Andrew, warning, “You should never underestimate the strength of that relationship.” It also mentioned the man’s role in bringing guests discreetly into Andrew’s Windsor residence.
Evidence seized at the border
Authorities seized the letter, along with other digital devices, when the man was stopped at the border in November 2021. He described Britain as his “second home.”
In February 2023, H6 was removed from a flight from Beijing to London. Officials informed him that he was being excluded from the U.K. due to security concerns. He appealed the decision, which was made by then-Home Secretary Suella Braverman.
The court upheld the ban, stating that H6’s connections placed him in a position to facilitate Chinese foreign influence efforts.
Andrew’s vulnerability highlighted
The ruling paints a picture of Andrew as vulnerable to exploitation. A document from H6’s phone outlined talking points for a call with the prince, suggesting that Andrew was eager for business opportunities in China. “He is in a desperate situation and will grab onto anything,” the document said.
Since stepping back from royal duties in 2022, Andrew has faced significant public fallout due to his association with the late financier and convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein.
He settled a sexual abuse lawsuit with Virginia Giuffre, who accused him of assaulting her when she was a teenager trafficked by Epstein. Andrew denied the allegations but paid an undisclosed sum.
Response from Prince Andrew’s office
In response to the security concerns regarding the Chinese spy, Prince Andrew’s office said Friday (Dec. 13, 2024) that he cut all contact with H6 after officials raised red flags. The statement emphasized that no sensitive matters were discussed between them.
Buckingham Palace declined to comment, consistent with its policy of not addressing issues related to Andrew since his withdrawal from public duties.
The Chinese Embassy in London condemned the court’s decision, calling it an attempt to “smear China” and harm relations between the two nations.
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