Sean Coughlan
Royal correspondent
What has really fascinated people about this story hasn’t
just been the allegations that Prince Andrew was being targeted by a Chinese
influence operation.
What made it even more surprising was the insight it gave
into how the prince was seen by those claimed to be trying to build links with
him.
He is “in a desperate situation and will grab onto anything”, said
a note found in the possession of the Chinese businessman, Yang Tengbo,
according to court documents.
It suggests a sense of isolation as well as someone needing
to find a way to get more funding.
The encouragement for Prince Andrew to move out of his
Windsor mansion, and the removal of the King’s financial support, have been
described in the media as the “Siege of Royal Lodge”.
He is a figure under
financial pressure, who has been urged not to appear at a family occasion. It’s
a big change from when he was globetrotting to meet entrepreneurs around the
world as the UK’s trade envoy and running the Pitch@Palace scheme, with its
Chinese offshoot.
That all might suggest why Prince Andrew might have been
seen as vulnerable to business contacts with an ulterior agenda.
Although Prince Andrew has said that in his meetings with
Yang Tengbo nothing of a sensitive nature was ever discussed.
