1 month ago
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December 17, 2024 | 09:55 am
TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - A new scandal has dragged the name of the British royal family. King Charles III is reportedly starting to lose patience with his younger brother, Prince Andrew, who is currently involved in a Chinese spy case. A royal source told The Daily Beast that the king's relationship with the Duke of York is now on the rocks.
"He has stood by Andrew for years. But everyone has their limits," said the source. "I can't imagine the King wanting to walk to church with someone who has ties to Chinese spies," he added—referring to the royal family's tradition of attending Christmas services together at Sandringham, Norfolk.
Prince Andrew Involved in Chinese Spy Scandal
Based on a report by the Daily Mail on Sunday, December 15, this scandal emerged starting last Thursday, revealing a Chinese businessman, referred to as H6, who is suspected of being an intelligence agent for the Chinese Communist Party. H6 is known to have special access to Prince Andrew. In fact, he was recorded visiting Buckingham Palace twice, entering St. James's Palace and Windsor Castle—and even receiving permission to represent the prince in seeking investment in China.
According to MI5 investigations, H6 was a member of the Chinese Communist Party's special intelligence-gathering unit, the United Front Work Department. When stopped at the British border in 2021, H6 was found carrying documents that said Andrew was in a desperate situation and would accept help from anyone.
Impact on the Royal's Reputation
The controversy is a major blow to the royal family, especially ahead of King Charles' Christmas speech. A palace source said, "You can't expel your brother from the family. Blood is blood, and every family has its difficult members."
Concerns have been raised that the scandal could tarnish King Charles and Queen Camilla's efforts to build a positive royal image. In recent years, public attention has often focused on Prince Andrew's controversies, rather than on the royal family's other achievements.
Then King Charles decided to withdraw Prince Andrew's annual allowance of £3 million or around Rp. 57 billion and urged him to move out of Royal Lodge, a magnificent property in Windsor. However, Prince Andrew insisted on staying there, claiming to have obtained a legitimate source of independent funds.
Mystery Money Sources
Questions have been raised again about the source of Prince Andrew’s money. The Times reported that he had once assured the palace that his money came from legitimate sources. A 50-year-old businessman who is suspected of being a spy—who has not been identified—was appointed as a business adviser by Prince Andrew and promised access to the highest levels of the royal family, which would be a serious breach of national security.
Sir Michael Stevens, the Keeper of the Royal Treasury, agreed with the claim. But the new revelations about Prince Andrew’s relationship with H6 have raised fresh speculation. Norman Baker, a former minister who has been critical of royal finances, has spoken out. “It is absolutely absurd that the palace doesn’t know where the money is coming from. They need to investigate and tell the public,” he said.
Prince Andrew has also been tarnished by his association with Jeffrey Epstein, the billionaire who died in prison for sexual abuse. In 2019, he stepped back from royal duties after a controversial BBC interview that damaged his public image.
At the time, Prince Andrew denied allegations by Virginia Giuffre, who claimed she was forced to have sex with the prince when she was a minor. He said he had no recollection of meeting Giuffre. But he issued a statement saying he regretted his association with Jeffrey Epstein.
Since then, Prince Andrew has remained a thorn in the side of the royal family. This coming Christmas, he is scheduled to attend a family gathering in Norfolk with his ex-wife, Sarah Ferguson, and their two daughters, Beatrice and Eugenie.
THE DAILY BEAST | DAILY MAIL | THE TIMES
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