Prince Andrew’s former business adviser is facing new accusations of espionage. The unnamed individual has been barred from entering the UK following allegations that he was secretly working for the Chinese Communist Party. He is believed to be affiliated with China’s United Front Work Department, a body linked to political influence operations.
The ban, initially imposed in March 2023, was upheld on Friday after the man lost his appeal against the decision. According to BBC News, a special immigration investigation has been launched into the matter.
Details surrounding the man’s relationship with Prince Andrew, 64, remain unclear, though reports reveal that the adviser attended Andrew’s 2020 birthday party and had also been invited to join the royal family at Windsor. At one point during the party, the man reportedly told Andrew he could not act on his behalf in dealings with potential Chinese investors.
A ruling issued by the UK government referenced the man as “H6” and affirmed that former Home Secretary Suella Braverman was justified in deeming him a national security risk. The judgment concluded that his exclusion from the country was “justified and proportionate,” with British officials calling the access he had to the royals a “serious breach of national security,” according to The Times of London.
Evidence uncovered during the investigation adds further intrigue. Among the materials found on H6’s electronic devices was a letter from one of Andrew’s advisers, stating, “Outside of [the prince’s] closest internal confidants, you sit at the very top of a tree that many, many people would like to be on.”
Additionally, a briefing document prepared for a call with Andrew outlined “main talking points,” including a stark warning: “IMPORTANT: Manage expectations. Really important to not set ‘too high’ expectations — he is in a desperate situation and will grab onto anything,” per the BBC.
