PRINCE Andrew has broken his silence on the alleged “Chinese spy” who was a “close confidant” – claiming nothing of “a sensitive nature” was ever shared.
A suspected Chinese spy described as a close confidant of the Duke of York has lost an appeal against a decision to ban him from Britain.
The 50-year-old, who supported Prince Andrew during recent scandals and was invited to his birthday party in 2020, was properly excluded, immigration judges ruled.
He was not honest about his links to the Chinese state and could exploit his relationship with the duke and other public figures, they said.
In a statement this evening, Andrew’s office said: “The Duke of York followed advice from HMG 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.”
The King has been briefed by British intelligence over the major security breach, the Mirror reports.
Counter-intelligence officers are probing how the man became scandal-hit Andrew’s “confidant”.
In their ruling, the judges pointed to what they called the “unusual degree of trust” the man had from a senior royal.
They added: “It is obvious that the pressures on the duke could make him vulnerable to the misuse of that sort of influence.”
The man, known as H6, was banned last year by then-Home Secretary Suella Braverman after officials flagged concerns.
Last month, The Sun reported that Andrew was ‘hung up on image and grandeur’ and was ‘allowing himself to be humiliated.’
Royal commentator Jennie Bond, the said the real reason the disgraced Duke of York had not left Royal Lodge was because he cares so much about his “status”.
The challenges Andrew had faced over the past five years had been well-documented.
His apparent determination to stay at his Royal Lodge home in Windsor has been the latest bone of contention.
In line with King Charles‘ plans to downsize the monarchy, Prince Andrew was offered a move from his mansion to the slightly smaller Frogmore Cottage.
The cottage was recently refurbished by Prince Harry, 40, and Meghan Markle, 43.
Prince Andrew’s home, Royal Lodge, is a £30million 19th century listed Windsor pad that he shares with his ex-wife Sarah Ferguson.
It was where the late Queen Elizabeth spent part of her childhood and boasts 40 hectares of woodland and lawns, eight cottages, and lodgings for security personnel.
But Andrew, who moved into Royal Lodge, the former home of the Queen Mother, in 2004 – has refused to move, after taking on a lease that lasts until 2078.
PRINCE Andrew’s reputation is damaged beyond repair and he will never be able to engineer a return to public life, according to one of Britain’s top PR gurus.
Brand and culture expert Nick Ede, who runs East of Eden PR agency, called the shamed royal “deluded” for thinking he could ever return to royal duties and urged him to give up and ‘enjoy his life’ in exile.
It follows the release of Scoop – a Netflix movie based on the 2019 interview he gave to Newsnight.
Nick said: “There is no way back for him.
“I think you know this perpetual idea that he could still be back. Nobody cares. He hasn’t got fans.
“There’s nobody out there who’s going ‘We want to see Prince Andrew’, not one single person. I think he has to realise that. But I think it’s going to take a long, long time for him to actually understand. It’s very deluded.
“In my opinion, the best thing that he could do is just enjoy his life. He’s got gorgeous daughters. He has a great relationship with Fergie, he has a lovely house.
“Just live a quiet life.”
Reflecting on the interview five years ago – the fallout of which saw Andrew step back from royal duties “for the foreseeable future” – Nick compared the fallout to Frost vs Nixon and said he would have urged him not to do it.
He said: “If I had been advising him, I would say, go quiet, be quiet, just go to ground. You know you’re a prince. Enjoy the life that you lead, but do not open this can of worms, because that’s what it is.
“There was no admission that a relationship with somebody like Epstein was terribly toxic. There was no idea that there were loads of victims of trafficking whose lives were completely ruined by Epstein. He didn’t seem to think that the association he had with that man was anything but positive.
“I think his worst gaffe was obviously being in that interview and agreeing to it in the first place, for not realising that he’s actually going to be interviewed by a very, very good journalist who is going to ask him questions which he might not like.
“But I think what this has done is really shown how archaic Prince Andrew is in his opinions and thoughts.
“Read the room. He’s never read a room at all.”
