Prince Andrew invited ‘Chinese spy’ into Buckingham Palace

The businessman also attended events at St James’s Palace and Windsor Castle – and was invited to Duke of York’s birthday party at Royal Lodge.

The Duke of York at a Pitch@Palace event in Shenzhen in 2019. None of the individuals in this photograph are the unnamed spy. Picture: Xinhua/Alamy/The Times

An alleged Chinese spy who has been banned from Britain on national security grounds entered Buckingham Palace, St James’s Palace and Windsor Castle at the invitation of Prince Andrew.

The Chinese businessman, 50, who cannot be named for legal reasons, was invited into Buckingham Palace twice.

He also attended a function at St James’s Palace and an event at Windsor Castle. On another occasion, the alleged spy was invited as a guest to the Duke of York’s birthday at Royal Lodge, Andrew’s 30-bedroom home on the Windsor estate. The man, who was not previously known to be a security risk, was barred from entering the UK when he was stopped at the border under counter-terrorism laws in 2021.

Details of his connection to the royal family emerged in a hearing on Thursday in which he tried and failed to have the ban overturned.

A statement from the duke’s office on Friday asserted that Andrew had “ceased all contact” with the businessman.

It 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.”

A Palace source confirmed that the King had been briefed “through the appropriate channels” about his brother’s links to the alleged spy.

The alleged spy’s identity cannot be revealed, although that ruling may be lifted as early as next week.

The fact that Andrew was so close to someone who faces accusations of espionage has raised questions about what sort of intelligence may have been sought from the duke.

Two years ago, MI5 and the FBI joined forces to warn of the threat from China to the UK and the USA.

Andrew with President Xi of China during his state visit to Britain in 2015. Picture: Jack Taylor//AFP/Getty Images

Tom Tugendhat, a Conservative MP and the former security minister, said: “It is important that there is an urgent investigation into attempts at subversion in Buckingham Palace.

“Understanding the level of influence and access is important to knowing how to make sure this never happens again.

“They were using him. Not because he has access to secrets. This isn’t about him. They care about what he can do for them … It’s about access, not just direct but indirect access.

“Many people are operating in the UK in support of the Chinese Communist Party. These people aren’t James Bond.”

The alleged spy’s phone had been found to contain a letter from Dominic Hampshire, a senior adviser to Andrew, dated March 2021. It referred to the businessman being invited to the duke’s birthday party.

Hampshire wrote: “I also hope that it is clear to you where you sit with my principal and indeed his family. You should never underestimate the strength of that relationship … outside of his closest internal confidants, you sit at the very top of a tree that many, many people would like to be on.”

It can now be reported that the man had also accepted invitations to the two royal palaces and Windsor Castle.

Andrew’s connections with China go back more than 20 years. After retiring from the Royal Navy in 2001, he was appointed by Tony Blair, the prime minister, as special representative for international trade and investment, reporting jointly to the Foreign Office and the Department for Business, Innovation and Skills, and made several trips to China.

Although Andrew did not receive a salary for his role, his expenses and travel costs were paid. He stepped down from the position in 2011.

The Special Immigration Appeals Commission was told that MI5 had discovered that the businessman was a member of the Chinese Communist Party and was working for its United Front Work Department, which gathers intelligence.

As well as his links to Andrew, the alleged spy is thought to have built up a network of contacts at the heart of the British establishment. He was an honorary member of the 48 Group Club, a pro-China lobbying group that includes politicians and business leaders who favour closer ties. Present fellows include Lord Mandelson and Blair. There is no suggestion that any of them were involved with the alleged spy.

In 2009, Andrew’s expenses rose to £154,000 for 12 foreign trips, up £11,000 from the previous year. These bills were in addition to the £520,000 spent on his travel costs, which included at least six chartered flights.

As a working member of the royal family at the time he was also in receipt of funds from the sovereign grant. However, questions arose as to what other benefits he might be getting from his many foreign trips in the role.

During a taxpayer-funded trip to China in 2010, Andrew shared his itinerary with his friend, the financier Jonathan Rowland. In emails that were later leaked, he said to Rowland: “This is my outline program for China. Which events do you need to be at? Can you let Amanda [Thirsk, then Andrew’s private secretary] know?”

Rowland replied: “Like to come to everything … if it’s not relevant for our business I will sit quietly.”

Amanda Thirsk, formerly Andrew’s private secretary. Picture: Yui Mok/PA/The Times

Rowland then emailed Thirsk to ask if he could invite the chief executive of a big Chinese insurance company to a meeting with the duke.

Andrew was forced to step down from his special representative role after a series of controversies and criticism over his friendship with the American financier and convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein.

As well as questions about whether he used the position to enrich himself, there were reports that Andrew had been rude in the role.

WikiLeaks revealed a cable sent in 2008 by Tatiana Gfoeller, Washington’s ambassador to Kyrgyzstan, in which Andrew was said to have spoken “cockily” at a meeting with British and Canadian business people.

In 2011, Buckingham Palace confirmed that Andrew would no longer serve as an official trade envoy, although he intimated that his work would continue under a different guise.

In the year after stepping down from the role, the duke spent 28 days abroad, visiting Saudi Arabia, Singapore, China, Hong Kong, Malaysia, Qatar and Abu Dhabi.

Andrew’s fall from grace, which would eventually result in him having to step back from all royal duties, came in November 2019, after outrage over his Newsnight interview about his friendship with Epstein.

He continued to occupy office space at Buckingham Palace for some years and used the address on documents for his business endeavours. A Palace source said his use of an office truly came to an end only “with the accession” of Charles.

No. 10 said: “In terms of China, we will always stand firm generally in prioritising our national security. We’ve been clear that we will co-operate where we can, compete where needed and challenge where we must including on matters of national security.”

Buckingham Palace declined to comment.

The Times