Prince Andrew faces fresh calls to leave Royal Lodge after hosting Chinese ambassador business meeting
Prince Andrew is facing fresh calls to leave Royal Lodge after it emerged that he held a business meeting with China’s ambassador to the UK just days before his links to an alleged Chinese spy became public.
The disgraced Duke of York has refused to move out of his sprawling royal residence — located on the grounds of Windsor Castle — for months, despite being embroiled in a slew of controversies.
Now, the duke is understood to have hosted Ambassador Zheng Zeguang at the royal digs on December 9 to meet with Middle East investment firm Waterberg-Stirling, The Sun reports.
King Charles’ younger brother was snapped returning home from an early horse-riding outing that day, ahead of the lunchtime meeting at his residence.
The meeting took place just three days before court papers highlighted Andrew’s close ties to Yang Tengbo — the former working royal’s business adviser who has been accused of being a Chinese spy.
While the meeting took place at Andrew’s home, it’s understood that he was not present during discussions between Tengbo and Waterberg-Stirling’s CEO Oleg Firer, the outlet adds.
Firer, for his part, previously served as Grenada’s ambassador but was forced to step down after being banned from entering the country in 2023 over security concerns.
His firm, of which he served as Vice Chair, maintains strong links to China’s controversial Belt and Road Initiative, and is a “key stakeholder” in the company Startupbootcamp, which inked a lucrative deal with Andrew earlier this month.
The Dutch business firm will pay him millions in exchange for his connections from the Pitch@Palace initiative.
Speaking to The Sun, the UK’s former Home Office Minister Norman Baker said it’s “extraordinary” for Andrew to be involved in yet another scandal.
“Andrew goes from one disaster to another, and shows a complete lack of judgement,” Baker told the outlet. “He also shows he’s interested in pursuing things for himself rather than on behalf of this country.”
The duke is now facing calls to be removed from the Royal Lodge, where he has lived since 2004.
“It seems that every single time he is leaving him to sort out his own affairs, another matter of concern is raised,” a royal insider told the outlet.
