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A Chinese businessman – described as a “close confidant” of Prince Andrew – has been barred from entering the UK over national security risks.

Known as H6, the man was invited to the royal’s birthday party in 2020, and was told by Andrew‘s aide Dominic Hampshire that he could help in potential dealings with Chinese investors.

He was first excluded from entering the country in 2023 over national security fears by Suella Braverman, who was then home secretary.

In July that year, the Home Office said H6 was considered to have engaged in “covert and deceptive activity” on behalf of the Chinese Communist Party (CCP).

H6 argued it was unlawful and made an appeal to the Special Immigration Appeals Commission (SIAC).

Judges upheld the ban on H6 entering the country on Thursday, arguing the Duke of York could have been made “vulnerable” by his influence.

The specialist tribunal in London heard a March 2020 letter from Mr Hampshire – referencing the invitation to the duke’s birthday – was found on H6’s devices when he was stopped at a port in November 2021.

The adviser said in the letter: “I also hope that it is clear to you where you sit with my principal (Prince Andrew) and indeed his family.

“You should never underestimate the strength of that relationship… Outside of his closest internal confidants, you sit at the very top of a tree that many, many people would like to be on.”

Prince’s friendship with alleged Chinese spy raises more questions over his wealth

This raises yet more uncomfortable and embarrassing questions for Prince Andrew.

And prompts very serious concerns about whether the Duke of York created a threat to national security by his “close” association with an alleged Chinese spy.

Official court documents state the relationship between the two had a “convert and clandestine” element.

We know the individual acted as Prince Andrew’s business adviser, was invited to his birthday party, and more importantly, won an “unusual” degree of trust from someone who was a senior member of the Royal Family.

There is now further pressure to uncover the full extent of the pair’s association, and whether it continued after Andrew was forced to step down from his government role.

Andrew’s role as a ‘special representative’ for trade began in 2001, but ended after his connections with the convicted paedophile Jeffrey Epstein were exposed.

The court papers now suggest the pressures on him at the time could have made him vulnerable to abuse.

After his fall from grace, and removal as a working royal, there has been much speculation about Prince Andrew’s wealth and his ability to pay for the upkeep of his large Windsor home, Royal Lodge, which requires significant and expensive repairs.

Andrew is now facing even more scrutiny. And even more questions about the people he surrounded himself with.

The 53-page ruling also referred to a 2021 document recovered from a device which listed talking points for a call between H6 and Andrew which said the prince “is in a desperate situation and will grab onto anything”.

Judge Charles Bourne, Judge Stephen Smith and Sir Stewart Eldon said in their ruling that Ms Braverman “was entitled to conclude that his exclusion was justified and proportionate”.

They noted that documents on his phone suggested H6 had “deliberately obscured his links” with the CCP and the United Front Work Department – a network of Chinese groups that operate abroad.

The judges added H6 had been able to generate relationships between prominent UK figures and senior Chinese officials, which could then be leveraged by the country’s government.

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Mr Justice Bourne also said that H6 had “won a significant degree, one could say an unusual degree, of trust from a senior member of the Royal Family who was prepared to enter into business activities with him”.

He added: “That occurred in a context where, as the contemporaneous documents record, the duke was under considerable pressure and could be expected to value (H6’s) loyal support.

“It is obvious that the pressures on the duke could make him vulnerable to the misuse of that sort of influence.”

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Boy, 16, charged after teenager stabbed in Nottingham city centre Primark store

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February 24, 2025

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Boy, 16, charged after teenager stabbed in Nottingham city centre Primark store

A 16-year-old boy has been charged after another teenager was stabbed in the chest in front of shoppers at a Primark store in Nottingham.

The 17-year-old victim was seriously injured in the shop in Long Row at about 11.30am on Sunday, police said.

A boy, who cannot be named because of his age, was arrested a few hours after the incident and has now been charged with wounding with intent and possession of a bladed article in a public place, Nottinghamshire Police added.

He has been remanded into custody and is due to appear before magistrates on Monday.

The victim is in a stable condition and his injuries are not thought to be life-threatening, police said.

Detective Chief Inspector Claire Gould, of Nottinghamshire Police, said: “We understand the alarm this incident has caused and I’d like to reassure the public we have been working at pace to build a full picture of what had happened – and why.

“I am pleased we have now been able to charge a suspect in this case.

“As we continue to progress with our investigation, we are still urging anyone who has information which could assist us with our inquiries, who hasn’t already come forward, to please contact us as soon as possible.”

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Rocks and scooter thrown at trains on 120mph line in ‘incredibly dangerous’ spate of attacks

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February 24, 2025

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Rocks and scooter thrown at trains on 120mph line in 'incredibly dangerous' spate of attacks

Rocks and a scooter have been thrown at trains from a bridge above a 120mph railway line, an operator has said.

East Midlands Railway (EMR) said a train was damaged in the first recorded incident on 3 February when a large scooter was hurled off a pedestrian bridge near Loughborough station in Leicestershire.

Builders’ waste and masonry were dropped onto a track from the bridge – which connects Allsopp’s Lane with Little Moor Lane – and a rock was thrown at a train on 16 February.

Another object was thrown from the bridge, smashing a train’s windscreen, a day later.

The “incredibly dangerous” incidents impacted 21 services and caused more than three-and-a-half hours of delays, the operator said.

Pic: EMR/PA Rocks and a scooter have been thrown at trains in a spate of "incredibly dangerous" attacks from a bridge above a 120mph railway line, the operator said
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Masonry has also been dropped on to tracks. Pic: EMR/PA

Danielle Clarke, EMR community safeguarding and security manager, said: “These acts are not pranks or a bit of harmless fun, but incredibly dangerous crimes that put customers and staff at serious risk of injury or worse.

“They also lead to trains being damaged, delayed, and services being cancelled.”

She said action was being taken to address the issue, and appealed to members of the public to report any similar incidents or suspicious behaviour on or around railways to British Transport Police.

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Dan Matthews, head of operations delivery at Network Rail, said: “These acts of vandalism not only put lives at serious risk but also cause significant disruption to our rail network.

“We work closely with train operators like EMR, and British Transport Police, to prevent such incidents and catch those responsible.”

He added: “The safety of passengers and railway staff is our top priority, and we will not tolerate actions that compromise this.”

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Teenager pleads guilty to murdering his mother and two younger siblings in Luton

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1 hour ago

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February 24, 2025

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Teenager pleads guilty to murdering his mother and two younger siblings in Luton

A 19-year-old man has pleaded guilty to murdering his mother and two younger teenage siblings in Luton last year.

Nicholas Prosper, 19, appeared at Luton Crown Court over the deaths of Juliana Falcon, 48, Giselle Prosper, 13, and Kyle Prosper, 16.

Their bodies were found at a flat in Leabank, off Wauluds Bank Drive, in September.

As he appeared in court on Monday, he spoke to confirm his identity and to plead guilty to three counts of murder.

Prosper also admitted a number of other offences, including purchasing a shotgun without a certificate, possession of a shotgun with intent to endanger life and possession of a kitchen knife in a public place.

He will be sentenced on 5 March and has been remanded in custody.

A friend of Prosper’s mother previously described her as someone who “lived for her children” and said she was “a positive person who will be so terribly missed”.

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A statement on X, from the headteacher at Lea Manor High School, said they were “deeply shocked” by the death of Giselle.

“Giselle was a beautiful soul and a model pupil, she excelled in all her subjects and will be sorely missed, particularly by her friends in Year 9.”

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