Prince Andrew wrote birthday letters to Xi Jinping, ex-adviser told court

Released court statement says alleged Chinese spy helped draft private letters to Chinese president

The Duke of York sent letters directly to China's president, the prince's former senior adviser told a special immigration tribunal, with an alleged Chinese spy advising him on how to write them.

Dominic Hampshire, who worked for Andrew from 2019-22, said Andrew had always had a communication channel" with Xi Jinping that was accepted" and may even have been encouraged by Buckingham Palace and the late queen.