Prince Andrew, the Duke of York, is under scrutiny over his relationship with a Chinese businessman, known as H6, who has been banned from the UK over spying concerns
Prince Andrew is still set to join the Royal Family at Sandringham for their Christmas Day celebration – despite the Chinese spy scandal.
The Duke of York, 64, had a suspected Chinese spy as a “close confidant” and trusted business adviser, it emerged last week. He has reportedly been ordered to “uninvite himself” from a pre-Christmas bash at Buckingham Palace this week to spare The Firm further embarrassment.
And King Charles is said to be “face a conundrum” about his brother’s presence at Sandringham for the traditional Christmas Day celebrations. The monarch is understood to be reticent to “ban” Andrew from the festivities on December 25, though the Duke of York’s presence alongside his closest relatives as they walk to church is feared to resurface the Chinese spy row.
“He (King Charles) is desperately hoping the Duke of York will ‘do the decent thing’ and ‘recuse’ himself from joining them at Sandringham to spare the rest of the Royal Family further embarrassment,” a royal reporter wrote today.
King Charles is thought to be an awkward position following the scandal concerning his brother and a Chinese spy (
Image:
POOL/AFP via Getty Images)
The Duke of York meets Chinese President Xi Jinping in May 2018 (
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Getty Images)
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Andrew said he “ceased all contact” with the accused businessman when concerns were first raised about him in a statement from his office on Friday. However, questions were raised across national media on Sunday whether the row is an embarrassment for the UK.
Shadow home secretary Chris Philp described alleged activities carried out by Beijing in the UK were “deeply concerning” and need “looking at very carefully”. The 48-year-old politician urged everyone in public life, academia and business to be “alert” to the risks of infiltration.
But Rebecca English, royal correspondent for the Daily Mail, said King Charles, 76, is reluctant to prevent his brother from joing The Firm next week. She wrote: “He is, at the end of the day, his blood brother: he can’t divorce him, or indeed prevent him from seeing other family members… As it stands, I am told, Andrew is due to join the rest of the family in Norfolk next week for the festive gathering… Engulfed in yet another furore of his own making, pressure is being placed on the duke to ‘see sense’.”
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If Andrew continues with his plans, he and his ever-expanding family – including his ex-wife, the Duchess of York, and daughters Princess Beatrice and Eugenie and their children – will take over Wood Farm, a large property on the royal estate in Norfolk.
They will then join the rest of the 45-strong gathering privately to exchange gifts on Christmas Eve and then for Christmas Day lunch, which involves the very public walk to church in the morning.
And this year’s gathering is expected to be one of the biggest in recent memory, with even Camilla’s children invited, to acknowledge the challenges of the last 12 months and their hopes for a happier 2025.
