British royal distances self from Chinese national linked to espionage claims

A high court hearing revealed that Yang Tengbo was a close confidant of Andrew's, and the two men had a close relationship before Yang Tengbo was barred from the UK. The UK government has voiced growing concerns over allegations of espionage by China, and as a result, Prince Andrew and his ex-wife Sarah Ferguson will not join the royal family at Sandringham for Christmas this year.

Prince Andrew, the Duke of York, met a Chinese businessman, known as H6, through official channels, but claims they discussed nothing of a sensitive nature. However, a British immigration tribunal has upheld a decision to ban H6 from entering the UK on national security grounds. The government believes H6 was working on behalf of China's United Front Work Department, and a former UK minister has described the situation as "extremely embarrassing" given H6's close association with Andrew.