Questions are mounting over Prince Andrew's connection to a Chinese businessman, known only as H6, who has been barred from the UK on national security grounds. The case, which emerged last week after a tribunal ruling, has raised concerns about the UK's approach to China relations and the potential risks of political interference.
H6, a 50-year-old Chinese national, lost his appeal against a Home Office decision to exclude him from the country. The tribunal found that former Home Secretary Suella Braverman was justified in concluding that H6 posed a risk to national security, citing his lack of candour about ties to the Chinese Communist Party. He was stopped at the UK border in November 2021 under suspicion of hostile activity.
Prince Andrew's links to H6 have drawn particular attention, though the nature of their relationship remains unclear. Reports also indicate that H6 kept photographs of meetings with former Prime Ministers David Cameron and Theresa May, but there is no evidence these were more than brief encounters. Some MPs, including Nigel Farage and Iain Duncan Smith, have called for H6 to be named in Parliament, citing the national interest.
The case has sparked broader debate about the UK's eagerness to strengthen ties with China, with MPs warning that security concerns may have been overlooked. The government has yet to comment on whether the anonymity order on H6 will be lifted, but the issue is expected to be a focus of parliamentary discussions this week.
