A Chinese businessman, known as H6, closely associated with Prince Andrew, has been banned from entering the UK. The government suspects him of acting as an agent for the Chinese government.
H6, who had previously attended Prince Andrew’s birthday party, appealed a March 2023 decision to refuse his entry, which judges have now upheld as being in the national interest. H6 was said to have an “unusually close” relationship with the prince.
The Home Secretary deemed him a national security risk, justifying the entry ban. H6, once a low-level official in China, studied in the UK and later worked as a trade adviser for British firms in China, splitting his time between both countries.
His connection to the prince became known when letters from a royal adviser were found in 2021 during a customs check. MI5 feared H6 could influence UK-China policy on behalf of the Chinese Communist Party.
This is not the first controversy involving Prince Andrew, who has been criticized for his business dealings, including with Jeffrey Epstein. Buckingham Palace declined to comment as Andrew is no longer part of the royal family.
Source: NOS