King Charles was briefed about the arrest of the alleged 'Chinese spy'

King Charles was briefed about the arrest of the alleged ‘Chinese spy’ in Westminster in a sign of how seriously the authorities treated the suspected security breach 

• Two men were arrested in March on suspicion of spying for China
• King Charles was one of a very small group of people who knew of the arrests

The Kingwas kept in the loop about the arrest of the alleged ‘Chinese spy’ at the heart of Westminster.

In a sign of how seriously the authorities treated the suspected security breach, King Charles received a briefing about the case while it was shrouded in secrecy.

Two men, including a parliamentary researcher with links to several senior Tory MPs, were arrested in March on suspicion of spying for China.

King Charles was one of a very small group of people who had knowledge of the arrests before they became public knowledge last weekend. 

It is understood he was informed as part of his national security briefings.

King Charles was one of a very small group of people who had knowledge of the arrests before they became public knowledge last weekend

It is unclear if the King knew about the case before his Coronation in May, which was attended by China’s Vice President Han Zheng

A source said: ‘Only about ten people in the country knew the details and one of them was the King.’

It is unclear if the King knew about the case before his Coronation in May, which was attended by China’s Vice President Han Zheng.

During his visit Mr Zheng also met the Prince of Wales, Rishi Sunak and Deputy Prime Minister Oliver Dowden.

The Prime Minister and the Foreign Secretary were briefed close to the time of the arrest. Downing Street and the Foreign Office have declined to specify the exact date they were informed.

MPs have criticised his decision to step up engagement with China regardless, culminating in Foreign Secretary James Cleverly’s trip to Beijing last month.

China hawks accused Mr Cleverly of carrying out ‘Project Kowtow’. They have used the arrest of the Parliamentary aide to pile further pressure on the government to stop engaging with China.

In April, a month after the arrest, Mr Cleverly argued for ‘robust’ and ‘constructive’ engagement with Beijing.

The former aide last week strongly denied spying for China.

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