According to Prince Andrew’s senior aide, his reputation was deemed «irrecoverable» after his Newsnight interview.
Dominic Hampshire’s witness statement also mentioned that intelligence services expressed concerns about alleged Chinese spy Yang Tengbo and his impact on the Duke of York.
These court documents, released on Friday, were part of a case involving Yang, who was barred from the UK in March 2023 due to national security reasons. He denies any wrongdoing.
Mr Hampshire, who worked with Prince Andrew until 2022, provided evidence to the Special Immigration Appeals Commission (SIAC).
Initially kept private, his evidence was made public on Friday following requests from news outlets.
Below are some key points from his testimony:
• Mr Hampshire had two meetings with Prince Andrew and the King regarding a fund linked to Yang Tengbo.
• Prince Andrew has maintained a line of communication with Chinese President Xi Jinping.
• Intelligence services had valid concerns about Yang and his influence on Prince Andrew.
• Mr Hampshire used flattery to stroke Yang’s ego.
• Yang «categorically does not have a close relationship with the duke».
Some of the evidence related to the prince’s disastrous BBC interview about Jeffrey Epstein.
Mr Hampshire stated: «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, stating that he was a «close confidant» of Prince Andrew and posed a national security threat.
Yang unsuccessfully challenged this decision.
The documents reveal that Mr Hampshire had two meetings with the Duke of York and the King to discuss the Eurasia Fund, which is linked to Yang.
Yang Tengbo pictured with Prince Andrew
The King met with Andrew’s aide
Buckingham Palace released a statement on Friday clarifying the nature of these 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.»
Analysis: Andrew’s past still haunts him and his family
We now know considerably more about the plans and proposals to help Prince Andrew move forward after his car crash television interview.
And how the late Queen and the King were both kept informed about the ideas being considered, including two meetings with the King, the duke and his most senior advisor.
It’s also much clearer how disastrous the interview had been for the duke’s reputation. And how Andrew’s connections with China were possibly his only hope when it came to his next move, outside life as a working royal.
The palace would much rather all this had been kept secret.
The fact a statement has been released is significant and shows how keen the royal household is to distance itself from any association with the alleged Chinese spy.
We know too that the palace disputes some of the assertions made in Dominic Hampshire’s candid witness statement.
Mr Hampshire was one of the few people who stuck by the prince after the Newsnight interview. He played a considerable role in efforts to find Andrew future employment.
The Duke of York has posed a real problem for the King and continues to do so. His finances have long been questioned, including how he affords the upkeep of Royal Lodge, his Windsor home.
Dominic Hampshire made considerable attempts to block the release of these documents.
This further highlights how Prince Andrew’s past continues to haunt him and his family to this day. File pic: Reuters
Some details related to the prince’s controversial BBC interview about Jeffrey Epstein have emerged. Mr. Hampshire stated that following the Newsnight interview and in the subsequent months, it became evident that the duke’s reputation was beyond repair. This sentiment was widely shared within the royal household, despite the duke’s optimism. Plans were being considered for the duke to step away from his royal duties.
Mr. Hampshire noted that while he appreciated Yang’s loyalty and support during a challenging time, Yang, also known as Chris, did not have a close relationship with the duke. Judges had barred Yang from the UK, citing his close ties to Prince Andrew and potential national security risks. Yang unsuccessfully contested this decision.
Documents revealed that Mr. Hampshire had discussions about the Eurasia Fund in meetings with the Duke of York and the King, a fund linked to Yang.
Buckingham Palace clarified that while the King had met with the Duke and his adviser to discuss independent funding proposals, Yang was not involved in these discussions.
In his witness statement, Mr. Hampshire mentioned the duke’s communication channel with Chinese President Xi Jinping, primarily to support Pitch@Palace in China. He downplayed the significance of these communications, describing them as routine and courteous gestures.
Yang, previously known as H6, had an anonymity order lifted in December 2024. He was excluded from the UK in 2023 due to alleged covert activities on behalf of the Chinese Communist Party. Yang denied being a spy.
Mr. Hampshire affirmed that the Palace was informed of his commercial activities on behalf of the Duke of York, and full disclosure of communications with Yang and others was provided to Buckingham Palace and intelligence services. He emphasized his commitment to safeguarding the Royal Family’s interests with integrity.
Overall, the revelations shed light on the challenges faced by Prince Andrew and the efforts made to navigate the fallout from his interview. Prince Andrew’s reputation suffered irreparable damage following his controversial Newsnight interview, as revealed by his senior aide, Dominic Hampshire. In a witness statement, Hampshire disclosed that intelligence services had expressed «genuine concerns» about the alleged Chinese spy Yang Tengbo and his purported influence on the Duke of York. These court papers, made public on Friday, were part of a case involving Yang, who was barred from entering the UK on national security grounds in March 2023, despite denying any wrongdoing.
Hampshire, who served alongside Prince Andrew until his departure from the royal household in 2022, provided his testimony to the Special Immigration Appeals Commission (SIAC). Initially kept confidential, Hampshire’s evidence was eventually released after requests from media outlets. The key points from his testimony include the revelation that Prince Andrew maintained a communication channel with Chinese President Xi Jinping, and that intelligence agencies harbored concerns about Yang Tengbo’s influence on the Duke of York.
The fallout from Prince Andrew’s ill-fated BBC interview regarding Jeffrey Epstein was palpable within the royal household. Hampshire noted that in the aftermath of the interview, it became evident that the Duke’s reputation was beyond repair. Despite internal hopes that the situation could be salvaged, the consensus within the royal household was that alternative solutions for Prince Andrew’s future, detached from royal duties, needed to be explored.
Moreover, Hampshire acknowledged Yang’s loyalty and support for Prince Andrew during trying times when others distanced themselves. However, Hampshire clarified that Yang, also known as Chris, did not share a close relationship with the Duke, contrary to perceptions. Judges had ruled to exclude Yang from the UK, citing his close association with Prince Andrew and potential national security risks. Yang’s subsequent legal challenge to this decision was unsuccessful.
During two meetings with Prince Andrew and the King, Hampshire discussed the Eurasia Fund, a financial entity linked to Yang. Despite Buckingham Palace’s statement affirming that discussions with the King did not involve Yang, the shadow of Yang’s alleged involvement loomed large over Prince Andrew and the royal family.
The lingering repercussions of Prince Andrew’s past actions continue to haunt him and his family, according to an analysis of the situation. Details emerged about proposed strategies to help Prince Andrew navigate the aftermath of his disastrous interview, including consultations with the late Queen and the King. The fallout from the interview severely damaged Prince Andrew’s reputation, with his connections to China possibly serving as his only lifeline beyond his royal responsibilities.
The release of a statement by the palace underscores their desire to distance themselves from any association with Yang, the alleged Chinese spy. Discrepancies between Hampshire’s statement and the palace’s position highlight the complex dynamics at play within the royal household. Hampshire, one of the few individuals who stood by Prince Andrew post-interview, played a pivotal role in exploring future employment opportunities for the Duke.
In conclusion, Prince Andrew’s entanglement with Yang Tengbo and the subsequent fallout have posed significant challenges for the royal family. As the saga unfolds, the royal household faces the arduous task of managing the aftermath of Prince Andrew’s actions while preserving the integrity of the monarchy. His financial situation has long been a subject of scrutiny, particularly regarding how he manages the expenses of Royal Lodge, his residence in Windsor. Dominic Hampshire made significant efforts to prevent the release of these documents, highlighting how Prince Andrew’s past continues to haunt him and his family. In his testimony, Mr. Hampshire mentioned that the duke has always maintained a line of communication with Chinese President Xi Jinping, primarily to support the success of Pitch@Palace in China. However, he downplayed the importance of these communications, stating that they were mostly polite and superficial in nature. The release of an anonymity order in December 2024 revealed the identity of Yang Tengbo, a Chinese national who had been previously excluded from the UK due to suspicions of engaging in covert activities on behalf of the Chinese Communist Party. Despite these allegations, Yang denies being a spy. Mr. Hampshire emphasized that he kept Buckingham Palace informed of all his business activities on behalf of the Duke of York, offering full disclosure of his communications with Yang, the Hampton Group, and China to both the Palace and intelligence services. He stated that he always acted with integrity and loyalty to protect the best interests of the Royal Family and clarified that his business interests are not tied to any member of the Royal Family.
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