In a scandal that has cast fresh scrutiny on the inner circle of the Duke of York, a former military officer turned royal adviser continued financial dealings with an alleged Chinese spy two years after receiving a direct warning from MI5, according to revelations first reported by The Sunday Telegraph.
Dominic Hampshire, 56, a former Scots Guards captain and once a senior intelligence officer in Northern Ireland, allegedly ignored a 2022 briefing by MI5 cautioning him about Yang Tengbo—a businessman now banned from Britain on national security grounds. Despite the concerns raised, Hampshire maintained ties with Yang’s Hampton Group International, even receiving a monthly retainer from the company into 2023.
The warning reportedly came during a “defensive briefing” with MI5 agents, who flagged Yang’s suspected connections to the United Front Work Department, a Chinese Communist Party agency linked to covert influence operations abroad. Despite the gravity of the concerns, Hampshire insisted in a recently unsealed witness statement that he had “never seen one single red flag” regarding Yang, adding, “I genuinely trust him.”
The situation further escalated with news that Hampshire had submitted that same statement in support of Yang’s bid to re-enter the UK, which was denied by then-Home Secretary Suella Braverman in 2023. The statement, now public following a ruling by the Special Immigration Appeals Commission, also disclosed that Hampshire and Prince Andrew had twice held confidential meetings with King Charles at Windsor Castle to discuss the Duke’s future finances. These included a proposed Chinese investment initiative linked to Yang. A Palace spokesperson confirmed the meetings but stated Yang was not named during the discussions.
The Times UK noted that the security services’ concerns were shared widely, with even Prince Andrew reportedly seeking a face-to-face briefing with MI5 Director-General Sir Ken McCallum. That meeting, however, was canceled due to the calling of a general election by Prime Minister Rishi Sunak.
Adding to the intrigue is Sammi Tang, a Chinese national and senior vice-president at Hampton Group. Tang was detained at Heathrow in September 2023 under the Counter-Terrorism and Border Security Act. While she denies any wrongdoing, MI5 is understood to be investigating her close collaboration with Yang.
Hampshire, who has long been part of Andrew’s advisory circle and previously served as equerry to the Duke of Kent, began working with the Duke of York more formally after his controversial 2019 Newsnight interview concerning Jeffrey Epstein. That same year, Andrew introduced Hampshire to Yang—also known as Chris Yang—a connection that has since become a focal point of concern.
Despite his claim that he stepped down from formal duties with the royal household in late 2022, Hampshire admitted in his 2023 witness statement that he was still “regularly called in” to advise on significant matters concerning Prince Andrew. A source told Times UK that although Hampshire no longer holds a security pass, the exact timing of when his access to royal residences was revoked remains unclear.
The financial and political entanglements surrounding Prince Andrew and his inner circle are likely to raise further questions about oversight, national security, and foreign influence at the heart of the British monarchy.
Hampshire has defended his actions, stating: “In my personal business capacity I continued dealings with Hampton Group in China — which is not sanctioned — and, in accordance with current UK policy, doing business in China and with Chinese individuals is entirely legitimate.”
