Britain's Prince Andrew was facing intense media scrutiny on Saturday after revelations that a close Chinese business associate of the scandal-hit younger brother of King Charles was thought by the British government to be a Chinese spy.

A former Head of Royal Protection has called Prince Andrew's alleged connection to a suspected Chinese spy "a scandal waiting to be uncovered" and demanded a full investigation into the royal's activities.

Prince Andrew has reportedly cut ties with a businessman accused of being a Chinese spy. Andrew, 64, said in a statement to the BBC on Saturday, December 14, that he “ceased all contact” with the individual.

A suspected Chinese spy with business ties to Prince Andrew has been barred from the U.K. because of concerns he posed a threat to national security

Prince Andrew, the British King's brother who stood back from public life following his disastrous TV interview justifying his friendship with Jeffrey Epstein, is in the crosshairs of another scandal concerning his friendship with a man accused of being a Chinese spy.

A former UK security minister said Friday that it was "extremely embarrassing" that a suspected Chinese spy had become a confidant of disgraced royal Prince Andrew.

Questions have been raised about how an alleged Chinese spy was able to forge close links with Prince Andrew – even being authorised to act on his behalf to seek investors in China. Prince Andrew and the alleged spy became so close that he was invited to the Duke’s birthday party and into the royal estate at Windsor.