Prince Andrew has stated that he ceased all contact with a businessman accused of being a Chinese spy after receiving advice from the UK government. The businessman, known only as H6, was banned from the UK following a judgment by the country’s semi-secret national security court.
According to the court ruling, H6 was described as a “close confidant” of Prince Andrew, who had formed an “unusual degree of trust” with the duke. The court assessed that H6 was in a position to generate relationships between senior Chinese officials and prominent UK figures, which could be leveraged for political interference purposes by the Chinese state.
Prince Andrew’s office stated that he met H6 “through official channels” and that there was “nothing of a sensitive nature ever discussed.” However, the court ruling revealed that H6 was invited to Prince Andrew’s birthday party in 2020 and was told he could act on his behalf when dealing with potential investors in China.
The UK’s security service, MI5, had expressed concerns about H6’s activities, and the Home Office believed he was engaged in covert and deceptive activity on behalf of the Chinese Communist Party. The court upheld the decision to ban H6 from the UK, stating that he had won an “unusual degree of trust” from Prince Andrew, which could be used for political interference.
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