King Charles III is reportedly "furious" with his brother, Prince Andrew, over revelations that the disgraced Duke of York maintained a close relationship with a former staffer accused of being a Chinese spy. The controversy has cast another shadow over the British royal family and raised questions about security lapses within the monarchy.
The former staffer, identified in reports only by the codename H6, is believed to have worked for China's United Front Work Department, a division of the Chinese Communist Party. British intelligence flagged the individual as a serious national security risk, leading to his ban from entering the United Kingdom.
Reports suggest the alleged spy had access to multiple royal residences, including Buckingham Palace, Windsor Castle, and St. James's Palace, and attended Prince Andrew's 60th birthday celebration. His phone, seized during a 2021 airport stop under counterterrorism laws, reportedly contained evidence of his relationship with Andrew and other prominent figures, including two former British prime ministers.
That was "a serious breach of national security," British officials told the BBC. Sources have indicated that King Charles has been thoroughly briefed on the situation by British intelligence, adding another layer of tension to his already fraught relationship with Andrew.
A palace insider told The Daily Mail, "The Palace has behaved the best it possibly can with a difficult relation. Every sanction that can be imposed has been, but you can't divorce or sack your brother from being your brother. There will always be a bond of blood and all families often have difficult relatives to deal with."
Despite the scandal, Charles reportedly invited Andrew to a family Christmas event, signaling a continued effort to maintain some semblance of familial unity. However, insiders suggest that patience within royal circles is wearing thin. "His Majesty's patience is wearing thin. He has stood by Andrew for many years, but everyone has their limits," a friend of the King told The Daily Beast.
Andrew's critics argue that his connections to H6 reflect not just poor judgment but also a broader issue of lax oversight within his personal and professional circle. Yet Andrew's allies have countered, asserting that he is being unfairly targeted. A source close to Andrew told The Telegraph, "If it is true that the Duke was targeted by this man and that this man in turn was on maneuvers in some way, I don't see how that can be a criticism of the Duke rather than a criticism of Chinese operatives."
Andrew's relationship with H6 reportedly spanned at least eight years, during which the alleged spy gained significant access to the royal family. According to The Times, the relationship included both personal and business interactions, raising questions about the level of due diligence conducted by Andrew's advisers.
Adding to the complexity is the fact that H6 also met former British prime ministers David Cameron and Theresa May. However, spokespeople for both leaders described these encounters as routine engagements, distancing themselves from the deeper ties H6 reportedly cultivated with Andrew.
This latest scandal compounds Prince Andrew's already tarnished reputation. He has been a royal outcast since his association with convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein came to light. Stripped of his royal duties and public roles, Andrew has been living at the Royal Lodge on the Windsor estate, reportedly supported by King Charles's personal wealth.
