Prince Andrew, in turmoil for his links with a Chinese businessman suspected of spying for Beijing, will not join the rest of the royal family for Christmas, British media reported on Monday. The British government has also expressed its “concern” about the actions of Beijing, in reaction to suspicions targeting this businessman linked to the Duke of York, title of Prince Andrew.
The man had become close to Andrew to the point of being invited to his birthday in 2020 and was authorized to act on the prince’s behalf to seek out potential Chinese investors. The latter assured Friday that he had “ceased all contact” with this individual “as soon as concerns were raised,” adding that “nothing sensitive was discussed” between them.
The third of four children of Queen Elizabeth II and Prince Philip, Andrew previously fell from grace due to his closeness to financier and sex criminal Jeffrey Epstein, who committed suicide in prison. He was deprived of his military titles in early 2022 after accusations of sexual assault on a 17-year-old girl, Virginia Giuffre, a case which ended in a financial settlement.
Andrew has been withdrawing from the royal family for several years. Last year, however, he attended with his ex-wife Sarah Ferguson and their two daughters Beatrice and Eugenie the Christmas celebrations in the royal residence of Sandringham (east of England). This time, put under pressure by this new scandal, the prince will stay away, and will be absent like “Fergie” from the family festivities.
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