UK courts release new documents on Prince Andrew's connection to spy

UK courts release new documents on Prince Andrew's connection to spy

Prince Andrew's links to an alleged Chinese spy were detailed in British court documents on Friday, which included a statement from a former close associate of the prince describing the duke's line of communication with China's President Xi Jinping.

Details of court documents

Dominique Hampshire's 10-page statement from May 2024 was part of a package of documents released by the courts following an inquiry from numerous British media organizations into Prince Andrew's relationship with alleged spy Yang Tengbo. These documents are part of Yang's appeal against his expulsion from the UK in December, which he lost.

The role of Yang Tengbo

Yang should have one close relationship with Prince Andrew and co-founded Pitch@Palace China, which expanded the Duke's initiative into China. At a tribunal hearing in December, which upheld the earlier decision to bar Yang from access to the UK, it was revealed that Yang was authorized to act on behalf of Prince Andrew during business meetings with potential Chinese investors in the UK.

Threat to national security

Former home secretary Suella Braverman told Parliament in December that she made the decision to expel Yang from the UK "because his presence poses a threat to our national security" and that it was based on "advice from MI5," Britain's domestic intelligence service. Yang has denied any wrongdoing.

Communication with Xi Jinping

Hampshire also confirmed that Yang helped Prince Andrew write letters to Xi about the Eurasia Fund. Yang presented this in his written evidence to the tribunal as a way to "enhance" the Duke's Pitch@Palace initiative "into an investment-focused business or fund". In addition, Yang was tasked with speaking to “relevant people” in China, the British news agency PA reported.

Acceptance within the royal family

"The Royal Household, including the late Queen, were fully aware of this communication - it was certainly accepted, and one might even say encouraged - it was an open channel of communication which was useful," Hampshire said in his statement.

Conversations about the Duke's future

Hampshire said he met Prince Andrew and King Charles twice in the six months before his testimony to discuss "what the Duke can do in the future to be acceptable to His Majesty." These discussions also included the Eurasia Fund, the PA said.

No mention of Yang

Buckingham Palace said on Friday that King Charles, along with Hampshire, spoke to Prince Andrew last year to discuss proposals for independent funding, but Yang was never mentioned.

Consequences of the interview with the BBC

The relationship between the prince and Yang came shortly after the Duke's disastrous BBC interview in 2019 about his connection to the late sex offender Jeffrey Epstein. Hampshire explained that this was the reason for his belief that the prince's reputation was "irreparable".

Final remarks on Yang

"That was a widespread feeling in the royal household, despite what the duke thought might happen. It was very clear internally in the royal household that we needed to look at options for the duke's future beyond royal duties," Hampshire said in his testimony, British news agency PA reported.

According to PA, Hampshire added that he had never seen a "red flag" with Yang (who was also known as Chris) and stressed that Yang "categorically does not have a close relationship with the Duke." "Chris obviously does not have the Duke's phone number or email address and will never have the opportunity to speak to the Duke directly. This is normal practice and Chris's relationship with the Duke is the same as with many others," he explained.

End of cooperation

Hampshire said in a separate statement on Friday that he had left the royal household in 2022 and would no longer give advice to the prince, according to PA.

CNN's Rob Picheta and Max Foster contributed to this report.