MI5 untersucht Prinz Andrews Bargeld aus China – die Finanzen des Herzogs von York werden wegen Spionageskandal in Frage gestellt, während hochrangige Tories auf die Entlarvung des Verdächtigen drängen

Robert Mendick, Victoria Ward, and Charles Hymas:

*Chinese money given to the Duke of York is being investigated by the security services, The Telegraph can disclose.*

*Prince Andrew’s business venture is understood to have received money from Chinese donors with links to an alleged Communist party spy.*

*The disclosure comes after it emerged on Thursday that the alleged spy, described as a “close confidant” of the Duke in court documents, had been banned from the UK on national security grounds.*

*In his first comments on the scandal on Friday night, the Duke insisted that he “ceased all contact” with the alleged spy after concerns were raised, with “nothing of a sensitive nature ever discussed”.*

*[…] It is likely that the domestic intelligence agency informed the Royal household through Lord Parker, who was Lord Chamberlain up until a month ago and before that MI5’s director general.*

*The alleged spy, known only as H6, is a former junior civil servant in China who is accused of working for the United Front Work Department (UFWD), an arm of the Chinese state used to gather intelligence, recruit agents and buy influence abroad.*

*Whitehall sources have told The Telegraph that the UFWD used financial inducements to gain access and buy influence in the West, engaging in “deceptive” acts.*

*A source said: “The UFWD does influence. This is much more than just gathering sensitive information.”*

*The Telegraph has been told that money received by Prince Andrew was being investigated.*

*The alleged Chinese spy was also invited into Buckingham Palace by the Duke of York, according to reports.*

*The suspected spy attended the Palace on two occasions.*

*He also attended a function at St James’s Palace and an event at Windsor Castle, the Times newspaper reported.*