Beijing ‘believed the Queen backed Prince Andrew’s deals with China’
A document on a device held by alleged spy Yang Tengbo claimed the Duke of York’s involvement in a China-backed investment fund had ‘support from the British monarchy’.
The Chinese ambassador believed the late Queen approved of Prince Andrew’s efforts to enhance British business relationships with China, according to newly released court papers.
A document retrieved from an electronic device held by the alleged spy Yang Tengbo claimed Andrew’s involvement in a China-backed investment fund had “support from the British monarchy”. The 2021 document claimed Liu Xiaoming, the outgoing ambassador to the UK, was aware that Elizabeth supported Andrew’s “efforts to enhance Sino-British relations”.
It said both the monarchy and the government “are expected to welcome” the proposed Eurasia Fund project and “support its positive role”.
Andrew, 64, had planned to raise $3 billion of international financing for the fund by using the royal family’s international reputation, documents released by a court last week revealed.
The fund intended to establish a “golden triangle of friendship among the Duke of York, Middle Eastern nations and China” and Chinese investors were expected to contribute $2 billion. Andrew had completed discussions with the leaders of Abu Dhabi and Bahrain, who were planning to put in $500 million each, the documents claimed.
They also alleged that the fund was aligned with China’s Belt and Road initiative, a strategy introduced by President Xi to connect Asia, Africa and Europe.
Details of Andrew’s relationship with Yang emerged after he was banned from returning to the UK in February 2023 on national security grounds and his appeal to the Special Immigration Appeals Tribunal (SIAC) was rejected in December.
A security review said Yang had failed to reveal to Andrew and other members of the royal family his links with the United Front Work Department, the Chinese Communist Party’s foreign intelligence and propaganda unit.
Yang, a former Chinese government official, was able to operate freely for more than two decades in the UK, during which time he befriended the duke. Yang also met at least two prime ministers and cultivated influential contacts at the top of British society.
The businessman, who founded the Hampton Group PR and business consultancy, denies any wrongdoing or being a spy.
He has highlighted Rachel Reeves’s visit to Beijing last month to improve economic ties as demonstrating the UK’s “erratic” dealings with China. In a statement last Friday, he said: “I reiterate that the allegations against me are entirely unfounded, I have done nothing wrong and I am seeking permission to appeal the decision reached by SIAC.
“In the weeks since the media circus surrounding the publication of the SIAC decision against me, the UK’s chancellor has met with Chinese vice-premier He Lifeng in Beijing, saying ‘choosing not to engage with China is no choice at all’.”
A Labour peer said at the weekend that rules banning scrutiny of the royal family in parliament must be changed in light of the continuing scandals concerning Andrew.
Lord Foulkes is seeking a meeting this week with Simon Burton, the head of the House of Lords administration, to discuss what he claimed was a growing list of concerns about the activities of the royal family.
He said that parliament’s clerks had vetoed every attempt to raise concerns about Andrew and other royals. Foulkes argued that discussion should be allowed beyond the current limit of questions about the cost to the taxpayer of royal palaces and of events attended by the royals.
Andrew is also facing questions over his friendship with the convicted pedophile Jeffrey Epstein after it was claimed that Andrew stayed in contact longer than he had admitted. Emails released last week showed that in February 2011 a “member of the royal family”, believed to be Andrew, wrote to Epstein: “Keep in close touch and we’ll play some more soon!!!!”
If the emails were from Andrew, it would contradict the claim made by the duke in his 2019 BBC Newsnight interview with Emily Maitlis that he had ceased all contact with Epstein in December 2010.
The Times
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