Prince Andrew’s reputation was “irrecoverable” following his Newsnight interview, according to his senior aide.
A witness statement from Dominic Hampshire also reveals he was told by intelligence services they had “genuine concerns” about the alleged Chinese spy Yang Tengbo and his “influence on the Duke of York“.
The court papers, released on Friday, were used in a case related to Yang, who was excluded from the UK on national security grounds in March 2023. He denies any wrongdoing.
Mr Hampshire, who worked with the Duke of York until leaving the royal household in 2022, provided evidence to the Special Immigration Appeals Commission (SIAC).
His evidence was initially kept private, but the commission released it on Friday after appeals by news organisations.
Here are some of the key points from his evidence:
• Mr Hampshire had two meetings with Prince Andrew and the King to discuss a fund connected to Yang Tengbo.
• Prince Andrew “has always had a communication channel” with the Chinese president, Xi Jinping.
• Intelligence services had “genuine concerns” about Yang and his “influence on the Duke of York”.
• Mr Hampshire used “significant artistic licence” with Yang to stroke his ego.
• Yang “categorically does not have a close relationship with the duke”.
Prince Andrew attends the Royal Family’s Christmas Day service at St. Mary Magdalene’s church. File pic: Reuters
Some of the evidence related to the prince’s disastrous BBC interview about Jeffrey Epstein.
Mr Hampshire said: “After the Newsnight interview and in the following few months, it was clear that the duke’s reputation was irrecoverable.
“This was a common feeling within the royal household, despite what the duke thought may happen.
“It was very clear internally within the royal household that we would have to look at options for the duke’s future away from royal duties.”
Mr Hampshire added that, while he appreciated Yang’s “loyalty and support for standing by the duke when all others were deserting him”, Yang – referred to as Chris – “categorically does not have a close relationship with the duke”.
Judges banned Yang from the UK, saying the businessman was a “close confidant” of Prince Andrew and posed a threat to national security.
Yang unsuccessfully challenged that decision.
The documents show that Mr Hampshire had two meetings with the Duke of York and the King at which a fund known as the Eurasia Fund was discussed.
That fund is connected to Yang.
Yang Tengbo pictured with Prince Andrew
Buckingham Palace issued a statement on Friday to confirm the scope of those meetings: “While His Majesty met with The Duke and his adviser [Dominic Hampshire] to hear outline proposals for independent funding over the past year, the individual known as H6 [Yang] was not mentioned at any time or in any way as part of these discussions.”
In his witness statement, Mr Hampshire said that the duke “has always had a communication channel” with the Chinese president, Xi Jinping, “largely to support the success of Pitch@Palace in China, and this was never hidden”.
However, he dismissed the significance of the communications: “The content of the letters was a top-level ‘nothingness’ and a courtesy-type of letter. For example, the duke sends a letter to the president for his birthday each year.”
He added: “As is regularly the case in some communications, there was significant artistic license in ‘blowing smoke’ and stroking his [Yang’s] ego to maintain… support of the duke.”
In a separate statement released on Friday, Mr Hampshire said: “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.
“I am now a private businessman and none of my business interests are connected to any member of the Royal Family.”
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