Prince Andrew key business scheme launched by 'Chinese spy' in Beijing

Alleged spy Yang Tengbo, who denies allegations he acted as a Chinese spy while working in the UK, reportedly launched the Duke of York's Pitch@Palace initiative in Beijing

Prince Andrew was chiefly represented in Beijing by alleged spy Yang Tengbo, whose involvement in the Duke of York's business reportedly extended to founding the Chinese arm of his international scheme.

The royal, 64, has been embroiled in a national scandal following claims that he and Yang, 50, a Chinese national accused of spying on behalf of the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) known until recently as "H6", were closely linked. Among the allegations levelled at Yang by British authorities were that he "frequently connected to officials connected with the Chinese state", and "sometimes deliberately obscured" links to the CCP.

Authorities have further alleged that he would have been able to use these links to "generate relationships between prominent UK figures and senior Chinese officials" Beijing could leverage "for political interference purposes". A recent report has suggested he was deeply linked with Prince Andrew's business interests, and served as the royal's "man in Beijing".

The Times reports that Yang served as Andrew's chief representative in Beijing, and was responsible for founding the Chinese arm of Pitch@Palace, Pitch@Palace China, while also having had contact with at least two prime ministers - David Cameron and Theresa May - and senior business representatives. The Prince kickstarted the Dragon's Den-style initiative for budding entrepreneurs in 2014, through which he and Yang appeared to establish an early relationship.

Yang was entrusted with launching the scheme in China in 2016, and spoke publicly months after it was launched stating the Prince "entrusted us with bringing this project to China" in what he termed a "very unexpected opportunity". Yang's links to the royal didn't stop there, with the alleged spy having also twice visited Andrew at Buckingham Place in a matter of days.

He was also invited to his 60th birthday party in 2020. During a tribunal hearing the case against Yang, authorities presented a letter from Dominic Hampshire, one of Andrew's senior advisors, saying he could act on behalf of the Prince in official engagements with possible investors in China.

The letter stated: "Outside of [the prince's] closest internal confidants, you sit at the very top of a tree that many, many people would like to be on." The letter was found on Yang's devices after he was stopped at the UK border in 2021 for an as of yet undisclosed reason.

Among the other documents on the phone, authorities have said, were some indicating a link with the United Front Work Department (UFWD), the Chinese government's secretive organisation responsible for organising Beijing's cultural operations, and other government-linked groups.

Officials argued the documents showed he was "frequently connected to officials connected with the Chinese state". Yang has "entirely untrue", and denied having done anything unlawful. In a statement issued via his lawyers this week, he said he had fallen victim to a changing political climate.

He said: "Due to the high level of speculation and misreporting in the media and elsewhere, I have asked my legal team to disclose my identity. I have done nothing wrong or unlawful and the concerns raised by the Home Office against me are ill-founded. The widespread description of me as a ‘spy’ is entirely untrue.

"The political climate has changed, and unfortunately, I have fallen victim to this. When relations are good, and Chinese investment is sought, I am welcome in the UK. When relations sour, an anti-China stance is taken, and I am excluded. I built my private life in the UK over two decades and love the country as my second home. I would never do anything to harm the interests of the UK."

Prince Andrew's representatives have been contacted for comment.