Newly released court documents shed light on the Duke of York’s relationship with an alleged Chinese spy, revealing that the Chinese state viewed Prince Andrew as a “valuable communication channel.” According to reports from The Times UK, MI5 questioned Prince Andrew’s senior aide about their “clandestine” interactions with Yang Tengbo, a suspected Chinese agent.
Prince Andrew, 64, first met Yang in 2013 during the Shanghai Grand Prix, hosted by former McLaren head Sir Ron Dennis. Over time, Yang, 50, became a trusted confidant of the duke, even helping to launch the Duke’s Pitch@Palace business initiative in China. The full extent of their relationship has now been revealed in hundreds of pages of documents released by the Special Immigration Appeals Commission (SIAC), which followed Yang’s unsuccessful attempt to overturn a UK government decision to ban him from Britain on national security grounds.
The documents detail how MI5’s investigation unearthed communications between Andrew’s senior adviser, Dominic Hampshire, and Yang. These communications suggested that the duke and Yang maintained a close relationship, with the latter even attending royal events such as Prince Andrew’s 60th birthday at Windsor, as well as functions at St. James’s Palace and Buckingham Palace. One particular document indicates that China’s ambassador to London regarded the Duke of York as a “valuable communication channel,” adding further intrigue to the situation.
The controversy surrounding Prince Andrew does not stop here. His ties to disgraced financier Jeffrey Epstein have also surfaced again, with new emails indicating that the duke may have maintained contact with Epstein longer than previously acknowledged. Despite Andrew’s assertion in a 2019 Newsnight interview that he severed all ties with Epstein in 2010, emails from early 2011 show that the two were still in communication, with Andrew suggesting further interactions.
Yang, a businessman with ties to both McLaren and pharmaceutical giant GSK, was linked to the United Front Work Department (UFWD), a part of the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) believed to be involved in political interference abroad. Despite this, Yang denies being a spy. The investigation came to light after Yang was stopped by authorities under counterterrorism laws at Heathrow Airport in 2021. Documents found on his electronic devices, including a crib sheet for a planned call between Yang and “TD” [the Duke], bolstered MI5’s suspicion that Yang’s relationship with the royal family was more than just business.
In response, Yang’s lawyers have argued that the allegations are unfounded, seeking permission to appeal the decision by the SIAC. The Duke’s office has emphasized that Andrew’s meetings with Yang occurred through official channels and that no sensitive matters were discussed. Prince Andrew has also expressed that he severed his ties with Yang after receiving warnings from the authorities.
As the UK government navigates its complex relationship with China, the documents reveal a deeper connection between the Chinese state and Prince Andrew’s network. This investigation highlights the ongoing scrutiny of royal relationships and the potential risks to national security, as detailed in the Times UK.
