Prince Andrew finds himself at the center of the storm once again, this time due to his involvement in the scandal involving a Chinese spy (known by the Department of the Interior under the codename "H6") who managed to visit Buckingham Palace and Windsor Castle and potentially gained access to privileged information through his connection with the royal family's "black sheep."
Carlos III has promptly reacted by prohibiting Andrew's presence at the Christmas celebrations at Sandringham residence. The scandal has reached the Parliament, with demands to disclose the name and extent of the Duke of York's relationship with the Chinese spy, who was photographed alongside David Cameron and Theresa May when they were prime ministers.
The scandal unfolded as the Labour government of Keir Starmer was preparing to strengthen ties with Chinese President Xi Jinping following their bilateral meeting at the latest G20 summit. Several Conservative MPs have called for a thorough review of the new approach to China.
The alleged spy was "detected" by the Department of the Interior in 2023 when entry to the UK was denied due to engaging in "covert and deceptive activities" on behalf of the Chinese Communist Party. "H6" was identified as a businessman who "achieved an unusual level of trust with the Duke of York."
Prince Andrew once served as a trade envoy for the UK before the scandal erupted regarding his friendship with pedophile Jeffrey Epstein and the sexual abuse allegations by Virginia Giuffre, which ultimately led to him losing his royal duties (despite occasionally appearing at public events).
His alleged relationship with the Chinese spy dates back to at least 2020 when he was invited to the Duke of York's birthday party. On two occasions, while Queen Elizabeth was still alive, he visited Buckingham Palace. There are also records of his presence at Windsor Castle and St. James's Palace.
Apparently, Prince Andrew offered to mediate potential deals with "potential Chinese investors." In a letter written by his assistant Dominic Hampshire and found on a computer seized from "H6," the Duke of York was described as "a person sitting at the top of a tree where many would like to be." Another document from the alleged spy described Andrew as "a person in a desperate situation who will cling to anything."
In an official statement, the Duke of York's office has stated that Andrew "has ceased contact with the individual in question following advice from Her Majesty's Government." The statement emphasized that the relationship with the alleged spy occurred "through official channels and no exchange of sensitive information took place."
The Chinese Embassy in London has responded by claiming that the accusations are "baseless" and part of a campaign to hinder "normal exchange of ties between Chinese and British personnel."