Andrew’s reputation ‘irrecoverable’ after Newsnight grilling, aide told tribunal

It was a “common feeling” in the royal household that the Duke of York’s reputation was “irrecoverable” following his Newsnight interview, Andrew’s former senior adviser told a tribunal in a challenge brought by an alleged Chinese spy.

Yang Tengbo, who has previously said he had “done nothing wrong or unlawful”, was excluded from the UK on national security grounds by then home secretary Suella Braverman in March 2023.

Mr Yang – also known as Chris Yang – unsuccessfully challenged the decision at the Special Immigration Appeals Commission (SIAC) last year, with judges finding the businessman was a “close confidant” of Andrew and had “won a significant degree, one could say an unusual degree, of trust” from the duke.

Documents in the legal challenge, including the witness statement of Andrew’s former senior adviser Dominic Hampshire, were made public on Friday following a request from several media organisations.

In Mr Hampshire’s 10-page statement, he told the tribunal about the aftermath of Andrew’s 2019 interview over his relationship with late billionaire sex offender Jeffrey Epstein.

He 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.”

Buckingham Palace said that while the King met with Andrew and his adviser to discuss proposals for independent funding, Mr Yang was not mentioned at any time or in any way.

Also in the statement, Mr Hampshire said that he liked and trusted Mr Yang, adding: “In the five or so years I have known him, there has never been one single red flag in my head.”

Mr Hampshire said the duke’s Pitch@Palace initiative, set up to support entrepreneurs, was one of Andrew’s “indisputable successes”, and that hopes were placed on it continuing internationally.

Mr Yang was the founder-partner of Pitch@Palace China, and Mr Hampshire said he had not deserted the duke while UK sponsors and supporters of Andrew’s initiative were “falling away” after the interview.

The former adviser, who told the tribunal he had spent 10 years in the British Army, including as an intelligence officer in Belfast, later said that a degree of confidentiality was required due to the amount of leaks in the royal household.

He said: “Every time the duke does anything, the media attempts to destroy or at very least, malign him, often via individuals who leak documents or intel to the press.

“To progress in anything we do, everything has to be confidential where at all possible, not just with the Chinese.”

The tribunal was previously told that in a briefing for the Home Secretary in July 2023, officials claimed Mr Yang had been in a position to generate relationships between prominent UK figures and senior Chinese officials “that could be leveraged for political interference purposes”.

They also said that the businessman had downplayed his relationship with the Chinese state, which combined with his relationship with Andrew, represented a threat to national security.

In his written evidence, Mr Hampshire said that Mr Yang “categorically does not have a close relationship with the duke”.

He continued: “Anyone who understands how a member of the British royal family is looked after/advised would immediately know this.

“Chris, of course, doesn’t have the duke’s telephone number or his email address and does not have the ability to talk directly to the duke on his own – ever.

“This is normal practice and Chris’s relationship with the duke is the same as numerous others – this is my role – to protect him.”

In a statement as the documents were made public on Friday, Mr Hampshire said he left the royal household in 2022 and no longer provides advice to Andrew.

He also said that Andrew “fully complied” with advice to end all contact with Mr Yang.

He said: “The desire to keep my witness statement out of the media was solely to protect the confidential interactions I had with Buckingham Palace and the intelligence services.

“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.

“At all times I sought to protect the best interests of the Royal Family with integrity and loyalty.

“For the record, as soon as The Duke of York was advised to cease all contact with Mr Yang, he fully complied.

“He did not receive a penny in funding or support, directly or indirectly, from any Chinese individual or entity.

“In my personal business capacity, I continued dealings with the Hampton Group in China – which is not sanctioned – and, in accordance with current UK policy, doing business in China and with Chinese individuals is entirely legitimate.

“I am now a private businessman and none of my business interests are connected to any member of the Royal Family.”

The specialist tribunal previously heard Mr Hampshire was in contact with the intelligence services about Mr Yang – known as H6 during his legal battle – in 2022 before the decision to exclude him had been made.

Mr Hampshire said he was not warned of the possibility of his previous evidence being made public, stating he “would never have agreed to submit a witness statement” had he known.

In a ruling in March, three judges said the statement could be disclosed, finding it was “drafted explicitly to be used in support of representations” by Mr Yang.

Mr Yang has previously said he intends to appeal against the decision upholding his ban from entering the UK.