Chinese ‘spy’ got close to UK royals, met ex-PMs

scandal surrounding an alleged Chinese spy who managed to gain access to Buckingham Palace as a “close confidant” of Prince Andrew, the younger brother of King Charles III, intensified on Sunday as it emerged that he had also met former Prime Ministers David Cameron and Theresa May.

While Cameron and May distanced themselves from any knowledge of his espionage links, the row involving the businessman, known only as “H6” for legal reasons, continues to dominate the headlines after a tribunal judge noted that he had an “unusual” degree of trust from the senior royal. Earlier, Andrew, the Duke of York, said in a statement that he had “ceased all contact” with the alleged spy.

“Cameron was leader of the Conservative Party for over a decade and PM for six years. He met thousands of people during that time at hundreds of functions and events. We don’t have any further information about this individual,” a source close to Cameron was quoted as saying by ‘Sky News’. Meanwhile, a spokesperson for Theresa May said, “she doesn’t remember when or where this particular photograph was taken or the man in question.”

The revelations come after it emerged earlier this week that H6 had been barred from entering the UK due to national security risks. A Special Immigration Appeals Commission (SIAC) went on to hear in July that the man was invited to Prince Andrew’s birthday party in 2020 and was told by a royal aide that he could act on the Duke’s behalf when dealing with potential investors in China. The Chinese Embassy in the UK has denied the allegations, saying “some individuals in the UK are always eager to fabricate baseless ‘spy’ stories targeting China”.