Prince Andrew ‘could be barred from walking to church with royal family on Christmas morning’ as controversy rages over links to ‘Chinese spy’

Prince Andrew ‘could be banned from walking with the royal family to church on Christmas morning as controversy rages over his alleged links to a ‘Chinese spy’.

It is believed the Duke of York’s appearance during the annual Christmas walk from the family’s church has been thrown into doubt amid the latest scandal surrounding his alleged links to the man, who he claims can only be named as H6. The mirror.

Prince Andrew, 64, has been taking Christmas morning walks with the rest of the family for the past two years since the death of his mother, Queen Elizabeth II, despite other controversies including his friendship with Jeffery Epstein.

But things may be different this year, amid rumors that the king is furious that his brother has plunged the monarchy into a major scandal – with the alleged relationship ruining the reputation of the entire Royal family.

However, one source is said that despite his frustration with the Duke of York, Charles has accepted that he cannot “divorce or dismiss” his younger brother because “there will always be a blood tie.”

Royal expert Jennie Bond told the Mirror that the Duke should spend money ‘in the interests of the monarchy’ [Christmas] away from Sandringham, out of the public eye’.

She added that he “has become a recurring embarrassment to the royal family.”

Earlier this week it was revealed that a ‘close confidante’ of the duke was an alleged Chinese spy who had been banned from Britain following an MI5 investigation.

Prince Andrew with alleged Chinese spy banned from Britain

The Duke could be banned from the annual Christmas Day walk (Photo of the Royal Family during their annual walk in December 2023)

The Duke of York (pictured) has said he has ‘severed all contact’ with the businessman accused of being a Chinese spy when concerns about him were first raised

The alleged agent was so close to Andrew that he visited Buckingham Palace twice, entering St James’s Palace and Windsor Castle. He was even authorized to act on Andrew’s behalf to seek investors in China.

MI5 discovered that the 50-year-old businessman was a member of the Chinese Communist Party and worked for the shadowy United Front Work Department, which collects intelligence.

When police stopped him at the UK border in 2021, it was discovered that he had a briefing document which appeared to describe Andrew as someone who was in a ‘desperate situation and would grab onto anything’.

The alleged spy, who is a businessman, previously attended a meeting of the powerful Chinese People’s Political Consultative Conference (CPPCC) in Beijing. As a sign of his importance to the Chinese Communist Party, he was pictured in the front row of the meeting in the vast Great Hall of the People.

The businessman lost an appeal against a decision to ban him from entering Britain on national security grounds.

He took a case to the Special Immigration Appeals Commission (SIAC) after then Home Secretary Suella Braverman said he should be barred from Britain in March 2023.

Judges were told that in a briefing for the Home Secretary in July 2023, officials alleged that H6 had been in a position to create relationships between prominent British figures and senior Chinese officials “which could be used for purposes of political interference’.

They also said H6 had downplayed its relationship with the Chinese state, which combined with its relationship with Prince Andrew, posed a threat to national security.

Prince Andrew, Duke of York and Prince Edward, Duke of Edinburgh leaving the Christmas morning service at Sandringham Church in December 2023

The 50-year-old businessman, known only as H6 for legal reasons, became a “close confidant” of the eighth in line to the throne.

The disgraced Duke (pictured), 64, was urged to ‘be clear and honest’ amid calls for an investigation into how the alleged Chinese agent had infiltrated the royal family

A statement from Prince Andrew’s office said: ‘The Duke of York followed the advice of His Majesty’s Government and ended all contact with the individual after concerns were raised.

‘The Duke met the individual through official channels and nothing of a sensitive nature was ever discussed.

“He cannot comment further on matters relating to national security.”

In a ruling on Thursday, Mr Justice Bourne, Judge Stephen Smith and Sir Stewart Eldon upheld a ban on H6 entering the country, saying Prince Andrew’s problems had left him ‘vulnerable’ to exploitation.

It is the latest humiliation for Prince Andrew, who is already a royal pariah after being forced to step back from his palace duties following the Jeffrey Epstein pedophile scandal.

The duke stepped down from royal duties at the end of 2019 after public outrage over a BBC television interview in which he defended his friendship with Epstein.

In February 2022, the former Royal Navy helicopter pilot settled a US civil case brought by Virginia Giuffre, who alleged he sexually assaulted her when she was 17.

Andrew denied all allegations of wrongdoing.

Queen Elizabeth II soon afterwards stripped him of his honorary military titles and patronages, effectively excluding him from royal life.

MailOnline has contacted Buckingham Palace for comment.