Prince Andrew was identified as a potential threat to national security due to his close association with individuals suspected of spying for China, sources have claimed.
Security agencies are understood to have raised concerns about his dealings as early as 2021, with the issue discussed at senior levels within Government.
Before surrendering his Duke of York title, Andrew’s repeated meetings with businessman Yang Tengbo, later banned from the UK, had drawn the attention of intelligence officials, according to reports in the Telegraph.
The King’s brother met Mr Yang several times while promoting a now-defunct charity, sparking fears among ministers that his activities could compromise national security.
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Last week, it emerged that Andrew had met the Chinese official at least three times. The man at the centre of those meetings is linked to a collapsed criminal case involving two alleged British spies accused of passing information to Beijing. Both have always maintained their innocence.
One senior figure familiar with the matter told the publication that “absolutely there were concerns” within the security services about Andrew’s dealings, which were subsequently raised with Cabinet ministers.
Other sources alleged that intelligence agencies had warned Government figures the prince’s connections with certain Chinese nationals could pose a security risk.
GB News has contacted the Home Office for a right of reply.
Yang Tengbo, an alleged Chinese spy, has been described as a 'close confidant' of Prince Andrew | GB NEWS
Downing Street has denied any involvement in Andrew's decision to relinquish his titles, but pressure is growing on the Prime Minister to back legislation that would formally remove his dukedom.
Andrew, 65, gave up his Duke of York title, his knighthood and other honours last week, acknowledging that media attention surrounding him had become a distraction to the wider Royal Family.
He still legally retains the dukedom, which can only be revoked by Parliament. A growing number of MPs have now voiced support for such action.
The controversy has deepened amid reports of Andrew's meetings with Chinese figures and the emergence of emails contradicting his previous claims about cutting off contact with Jeffrey Epstein.
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Yang Tengbo voluntarily waived his right to anonymity | MFA.GOV
Andrew’s relationship with Mr Yang began through their work on Pitch@Palace, his former initiative for entrepreneurs.
Mr Yang’s company, Hampton Group International, assisted in launching the charity’s Chinese branch. The two men met several times at royal residences in 2020, including Buckingham Palace, St James’s Palace and Windsor Castle.
In 2021, Mr Yang was stopped at the UK border under powers designed to investigate suspected “hostile activity”.
His mobile phone was seized and reportedly contained documents relating to Andrew, including a file marked “main talking points” for a call with the prince. It stated that Andrew was in a “desperate situation and will grab on to anything”.
Two years later, in 2023, then home secretary Suella Braverman banned Mr Yang from entering Britain after concluding he had engaged in “covert and deceptive activity” on behalf of the Chinese Communist Party.
A subsequent legal appeal failed, with judges noting that Andrew’s relationship with Mr Yang may have left the prince “vulnerable”.
Andrew’s office later said that “nothing of a sensitive nature was ever discussed” and that contact with Mr Yang ceased once concerns were raised by the Government. Mr Yang denies ever acting as a spy.
Further scrutiny has also fallen on Andrew's meetings with Cai Qi, a senior member of the Chinese Communist Party, in London and Beijing in 2018 and 2019.
Mr Cai had praised Andrew’s work on Pitch@Palace and is reportedly linked to figures accused of passing information to Beijing.
According to sources, the King told his brother that the recent revelations, involving both Epstein and China, marked a “tipping point”, after which Andrew was advised to give up his remaining titles.
Separately, the Metropolitan Police have confirmed they are “actively looking into” claims that Andrew used his police protection team to obtain information about his accuser Virginia Giuffre.
In response, a Palace source told GB News that allegations against Prince Andrew should be examined in an appropriate way.
On Monday, Buckingham Palace updated its website to remove references to Prince Andrew’s Duke of York title.