Prince Andrew has delivered a message of sympathy to the people of China amid the ongoing Coronavirus outbreak.
Despite retiring from public duties in November amid criticisms over his relationship with Jeffrey Epstein, the Duke of York attended a dinner hosted by Liu Xiaoming, China’s ambassador to the UK.
On Saturday, Xiaoming tweeted about the meeting alongside two photographs of himself with Prince Andrew and their fellow dinner guests, which included the Duke’s ex-wife, Sarah Ferguson, and their eldest daughter Princess Beatrice.
The diplomat wrote: “Her Majesty The Queen sent an encouraging message to President Xi and Chinese people: At the critical time of fighting #coronavirus, I express my sincere sympathy for Chinese people, and pray for the speedy control and victory over the virus. It was conveyed by Duke of York.
“My wife and I invited Duke of York and his family to our residence and celebrated Chinese New Year,” he added.
“Their enthusiasm for China and contribution to China-UK relation is highly appreciated.”
Many people on social media questioned why Prince Andrew had been socialising with diplomats when he was supposed to have stepped back from royal duties for the foreseeable future.
“So much for him stepping back from royal duties,” tweeted one person.
Another asked why Prince Andrew was “being treated as a normal royal”.
Buckingham Palace said that since Prince Andrew had stepped back from royal duties, his visit to the Chinese ambassador was conducted in a private capacity.
