The Duke of York's appearance at the royal family's Christmas outing is under threat due to a new scandal. His "close confidant" turned out to be a Chinese spy, UNN reports with reference to the Daily Mail.
The Duke of York's appearance during the family's traditional Christmas walk to church this year has been called into question by the recent scandal over his ties to a Chinese spy, codenamed H6.
Prince Andrew, 64, has joined the rest of his family for Christmas walks for the past two years since the death of his mother, Queen Elizabeth II, despite a number of other scandals, including his friendship with Jeffrey Epstein.
This year, however, the situation may change, as the king is rumored to be outraged that his brother has dragged the monarchy into another high-profile scandal that damages the reputation of the entire royal family.
Sources say that despite his disappointment with the Duke of York, King Charles realizes that he cannot "disown or dismiss" his younger brother, as there will always be a blood connection between them.
In an interview with the Mirror, royal expert Jenny Bond said that "for the sake of the monarchy" the Duke should spend Christmas "away from Sandringham, away from the public eye." She also emphasized that Prince Andrew has become a constant source of shame for the royal family.
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This week it became known that a Chinese spy was a "close confidant" of the Duke of York, who was banned from entering the UK following an MI5 investigation.
When the British police stopped this person at the border in 2021, they found instructions in his possession describing Prince Andrew as a man in a "desperate situation" and "grasping at every opportunity.
The spy was a businessman who had previously participated in a meeting of the influential Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference (CPPCC) in Beijing.
In a briefing to the Home Secretary in July 2023, officials argued that H6 had the ability to create links between influential British figures and senior Chinese officials that could be used for political interference. They also claimed that the spy downplayed his ties to the Chinese state and that his relationship with Prince Andrew posed a threat to national security.
A statement from Prince Andrew's office said that the Duke followed the advice of His Majesty's Government and ceased all contact with the individual after concerns were raised. He met with the suspect through official channels and did not discuss any sensitive issues that could have caused concern. The Duke has no further comment on national security issues.
On Thursday, judges Bourne, Stephen Smith and Sir Stuart Eldon upheld the decision to ban H6 from entering the country, noting that Prince Andrew's problems made him "vulnerable" to being used for personal gain.
This is another blow to the reputation of Prince Andrew, who is already in a kind of isolation from the royal family after being forced to resign from his official duties due to the scandal involving pedophile Jeffrey Epstein.
The Duke stepped down from royal duties in late 2019 after public outrage over a BBC television interview in which he defended his friendship with Epstein.
Recall
King Charles III of the United Kingdom has stopped supporting his younger brother, the Duke of York, after Prince Andrew refused to move out of the luxurious Royal Lodge residence.