King Charles dragged into Prince Andrew Chinese spy scandal as bombshell claims emerge

has been dragged into Prince Andrew's latest scandal as court documents claim that the monarch was briefed about an investment fund involving an alleged Chinese spy. The claims come in released court documents that include a witness statement from Dominic Hampshire, a senior adviser to .

Mr Hampshire described being smuggled into Windsor Castle alongside for clandestine meetings with the King, during which he says the Eurasia Fund - a fund that would use Chinese investment and put it into renewable energy projects in Africa - was discussed. He claimed these meetings took place in December 2023 and May 2024. Also involved in the fund was Yang Tengbo, a suspected spy who was banned from the UK on security grounds. Mr Yang denies any wrongdoing.

This came amid Andrew's efforts to find secure income after stepping back from royal duties. The document states: "I have had two meetings with The Duke and His Majesty to discuss what The Duke can do moving forwards in a way that is acceptable to His Majesty. It is also of note that, amongst other topics, the Eurasia Fund and Aidan Heavey were discussed on both occasions with His Majesty. (For both these meetings with His Majesty, despite less media interest in The Duke, we took all precautions to get in and out of Windsor Castle without being seen.)"

Mr Heavey is a former commodities trader and the former CEO of Tullow Oil, whose company owned 60% of the shares in Eurasia Global Partners - a management consultancy firm which was linked to the Eurasia fund.

Yang, who was banned from the UK on national security grounds despite living in the country since 2002, was a junior partner and owned just under a third of the company.

A Buckingham Palace spokesman said Friday that the King and Andrew did not mention the alleged spy - known as H6 before an anonymity order was lifted- in any of their meetings.

The statement said: "While His Majesty met with The Duke and his adviser to hear outline proposals for independent funding over the past year, the individual known as H6 was not mentioned at any time or in any way as part of these discussions."

Yang was first detained by police in November 2021, when he surrendered his devices including his mobile phone, with officials later becoming aware of how close he had become to Prince Andrew.

Mr Hampshire and Yang were both closely involved in the establishment of the Eurasia Fund which was set to involve Prince Andrew. However, concerns about Yang meant that Prince Andrew stepped away from the fund.

In a statement on Friday, Mr Hampshire said: "I left the Royal Household in 2022, and I now no longer provide advice - formally or informally - to the Duke of York. The desire to keep my witness statement out of the media was solely to protect the confidential interactions I had with Buckingham Palace and the intelligence services.

"The Palace was kept informed of all my commercial endeavours on behalf of the Duke of York, and full disclosure of all communications with Mr Yang, the Hampton Group and China was offered to both Buckingham Palace and the intelligence services. At all times, I sought to protect the best interests of the Royal family with integrity and loyalty.

"For the record, as soon as the Duke of York was advised to cease all contact with Mr Yang, he fully complied. He did not receive a penny in funding or support, directly or indirectly, from any Chinese individual or entity. In my personal business capacity, I continued dealings with the 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. I am now a private businessman and none of my business interests are connected to any member of the Royal family."

Mr Hampshire also claimed that no senior figure from the royal household suggested they cut ties with the Eurasia Fund or Yang, even after he was arrested.

He also claimed that he had to wait five months for a meeting with security services after making efforts to share information with them.

The Telegraph reports that Mr Hampshire tried to block the release of his statement as it contained "embarrassing" and "indiscreet" information.

However, the Special Immigration Appeals Commission granted a request to lift the secrecy order on the statement and documents.