Newly released files have revealed that Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor spent considerable time with Chinese Communist Party leader Xi Jinping, according to emails from convicted paedophile Jeffrey Epstein.
The correspondence forms part of more than three million Epstein-related documents published by the US Department of Justice.
These fresh disclosures intensify existing questions about whether the former Duke of York’s high-level connections to the Chinese state represented a threat to national security.
The documents suggest the former royal had substantial contact with senior Chinese officials.
New Epstein files have claimed that Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor had substantial contact with senior Chinese officials
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In a November 2015 email to Reid Hoffman, the LinkedIn co-founder and billionaire investor, Epstein wrote: “Prince Andrew is off to china , he spent a great deal of time with Xi.”
Epstein appeared to offer arranging an introduction between Hoffman and the former prince, adding: “if you would like to meet up, let me know”.
Earlier correspondence from September 2010, sent to Jes Staley, the former Barclays chief executive, indicated that the former royal was eager to act as a representative for JP Morgan Cazenove’s interests in China.
Epstein wrote that the then prince “would like much more to represent casanov [sic] in china than tim collins”, referring to an American financier.
Andrew is confirmed to have met Xi Jinping formally in Beijing on two separate occasions, in April 2016 and May 2018.
Both encounters took place in the Grand Hall of the People, China’s principal government building, with Chinese state media publishing photographs of the pair exchanging handshakes.
The pair were sat next to each other when Xi Jinping’s State Visit in 2015
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According to the Beijing government’s official website, the Chinese premier commended the former royal on both visits for his role in fostering a “golden era” in relations between the UK and China.
Reports also suggest Andrew sent birthday greetings directly to President Xi each year.
His former senior aide Dominic Hampshire stated in documents released last year that the former prince maintained a consistent “communication channel” with the Chinese leader, which Buckingham Palace “accepted” and may have actively supported.
The King’s brother had previously attracted security service attention due to his repeated contact with Yang Tengbo, a suspected Chinese spy who was barred from Britain in 2023.
Intelligence agencies raised concerns about the former prince as early as 2021, with warnings reaching the highest echelons of government.
Andrew met Mr Yang on at least three occasions, inviting him to Buckingham Palace, St James’s Palace and Windsor Castle in 2020.
Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor met Mr Yang as he established a Chinese arm of the Pitch@Palace charity
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Mr Yang assisted in establishing a Chinese arm of the Pitch@Palace charity, which has since closed.
When Mr Yang was detained at the UK border in 2021, his mobile phone contained documents relating to the former royal, including one describing him as being in a “desperate situation” who “will grab on to anything”.
Mr Yang has consistently denied espionage allegations.
Andrew has consistently denied any wrongdoing and being named in the files does not imply any misconduct.