During a taxpayer-funded trip to Hong Kong in 2010 as the UK’s Special Representative for International Trade and Investment, Andrew, formerly known as the Duke of York and now using the surname Mountbatten Windsor, allegedly arranged for Asian sex workers to be brought to his hotel, according to his biographer, Andrew Lownie. The incident reportedly took place while Andrew was on official business in Hong Kong, where he booked the top floor of a hotel and had Asian prostitutes brought in.
Although prostitution is legal in Hong Kong, organized prostitution is against the law. Various regulations prohibit activities such as running a vice establishment, procuring individuals for prostitution, living off the earnings of prostitutes, and publicly soliciting prostitution.
Following engagements at the Shanghai World Expo in Beijing, Andrew traveled to Hong Kong in October 2010. Details of his accommodations in Hong Kong were not disclosed by the Department of Business and Trade, but his trip included meetings at prominent locations such as China Merchants Bank, events hosted by Jardine Matheson, a meeting with the Chief Executive of the HSBC Group, and business meetings at the Mandarin Oriental Hotel and the Ritz-Carlton Hotel.
Upon his return to London on October 20, 2010, it was documented that Andrew had undertaken various UKTI visits to countries including Davos, Abu Dhabi, Malaysia, Vietnam, and China. An investigation into royal finances revealed that Andrew’s travel expenses during his time as the UK’s Special Representative for International Trade and Investment amounted to approximately £4 million.
Reports have circulated regarding Andrew’s involvement with prostitutes during his overseas trips. Allegations surfaced that during a stay in Thailand in 2006, he had multiple women brought to his hotel, and there were claims of unnamed women visiting Buckingham Palace regularly, raising concerns about security protocols.
Andrew’s connections with China have also come under scrutiny, with revelations about his relationship with an alleged Chinese spy, Yang Tengbo. Despite Mr. Tengbo’s denial of any wrongdoing, he was banned from the UK due to his alleged involvement in an operation targeting influential individuals. The High Court upheld the ban on Mr. Tengbo, citing national security concerns, while Andrew’s office stated that they had severed ties with the individual following official advice.
