Three members of the Royal Family have business links to an entrepreneur behind a members’ club boasting of access to the Duke of Edinburgh at Buckingham Palace, the Daily Mail can reveal.
The Queen’s grandson Peter Phillips has recently partnered with colourful Hong Kong-based investor and self-styled ‘Baron of Houston’ Johnny Hon, 47, on a horse racing venture.
He follows his sister Zara, who was a non-executive director of the businessman’s Global Group until last year.
Sarah Ferguson, the Duchess of York, was a director of a media investment firm with Dr Hon which recently posted losses of almost £10million and is on the verge of collapse.
The Duchess of Cambridge meets Dr Johnny Hon on the red carpet of a charity opening night event of West End hit 42nd Street
Last night the royals were facing questions over their links to the publicity-hungry millionaire after his firm bragged of helping wealthy investors meet Prince Philip, 97.
Last month Dr Hon claimed he was ‘working with’ Mr Phillips’ wife Autumn, 40, on ‘luxury lifestyle events’ for the Global Group Lifestyle and Sports Club.
The elite club promises its members access to ‘invitation-only gatherings’ such as ‘the Duke of Edinburgh’s Royal Christmas Dinner in Buckingham Palace’.
He posed for a picture with Autumn after another alleged business meeting in October and posted it on Facebook, alongside a picture of her in a carriage with the Queen.
Dr Hon with Zara Tindall (né Phillips) a granddaughter of Queen Elizabeth II and husband Mike Tindall. Zara, who is facing questions over her links to Dr Hon, insisted that she met the businessman only because he has entered a £10,000 supercar trek across the Pyrenees which she is organising
But last night Mrs Phillips insisted that she met the businessman only because he has entered a £10,000 supercar trek across the Pyrenees which she is organising.
The claims of royal access for members of Dr Hon’s club were also quashed by a Buckingham Palace spokesman, who said they had ‘no knowledge’ of a ‘royal Christmas dinner’ and pointed out that Prince Philip has stepped back from public engagements.
Dr Hon’s business interests span gold mining, gambling, oil drilling and even the production of Hollywood films.
He regularly boasts of his contacts book, posting photos on social media of him with major royals including Philip, Prince Harry and the Duchess of Cambridge.
The Queen’s grandson Peter Phillips has recently partnered with colourful Hong Kong-based investor and self-styled ‘Baron of Houston’ Johnny Hon, 47, on a horse racing venture
He also lays claim to an array of titles he bought, including the Scottish ‘Baron of Houston’, the Lordship of Chesterton, Cambridgeshire, and the Barony of Carlingford Castle in Ireland.
The businessman has founded and invested in a string of companies in Britain. His latest venture, The Global Group Lifestyle and Sports Club, boasts of offering private members ‘exclusive access’ to some of the world’s most prestigious sporting events.
According to its vice-chairman, anyone referred for membership could enjoy ‘private, one-on-one meetings with celebrities, diplomats, world leaders, captains of industry, fashion and sporting superstars’.
As well as perks including access to the royal enclosure at Royal Ascot, the company makes claims of a Christmas dinner at Buckingham Palace.
Last night Dr Hon said the offer of access to Prince Philip was related to his work with the Duke of Edinburgh Fellowship charity. He said investors could be referred to the charity and if they make ‘the required donations’, they could be invited to a palace dinner.
Last night Dr Hon said the offer of access to Prince Philip (left) was related to his work with the Duke of Edinburgh Fellowship charity
Last month Peter Phillips, 41, met with Dr Hon at the Global Group HQ in Hong Kong to finalise plans for a horse racing club. Mr Phillips – who faced criticism when he was paid £750,000 for organising the Queen’s 90th birthday party – will manage a portfolio of racehorses to be purchased by wealthy investors.
His role in the Global Group Premier Racing Club will run alongside his business City Racing, which aims to bring horse racing to city streets including in London. He is also managing director of the UK arm of sports management company SEL Ltd, of which his wife is company secretary and his sister Zara is one of its clients.
In 2017 Zara joined Dr Hon’s Global Group as non-executive director. He said the ‘accomplished entrepreneur ... will prove invaluable to helping us to increase our exposure to high quality sports and media projects.’ She stood down last year.
Following his meeting with Peter Phillips in Hong Kong, Dr Hon wrote on Facebook: ‘We are also working with Peter’s wife, Autumn Phillips, on luxury lifestyle events for our Global Group Lifestyle and Sports Club. As we move steadily and progressively into a range of exclusive private members clubs, I look forward to sharing more updates in the future.’
In October Dr Hon posted a photo of himself and Mrs Phillips, with the caption: ‘I had a lovely meeting with Autumn Phillips to discuss her co-operating with our newly launched luxury lifestyle club, the Global Group Lifestyle and Sports Club.’
Last month it emerged that Dr Hon was a director of media investment firm Gate Ventures alongside the Duchess of York and former ITV boss Lord Grade. Despite investing in West End hits including 42nd Street, the firm faces collapse having lost almost £10million in the year to June 2018. Dr Hon stepped aside in December 2017.
Gate Ventures also owns half of Ginger & Moss, a tea company set up by the Duchess of York. A friend of the duchess said she had been brought in to Gate Ventures recently by Lord Grade to develop Ginger & Moss and is not involved with other aspects of the business.
Peter Phillips confirmed he was working with Dr Hon on the Global Group Premier Racing Club. He added: ‘When we are able to announce something, we will.’ A spokesman for Zara said she had not held a position at the Global Group for some time.
A Buckingham Palace spokesman said: ‘The Duke of Edinburgh is not hosting a royal Christmas dinner. We have no knowledge of the event described.’
A spokesman for Autumn Phillips said: ‘Her involvement with Dr Hon is solely that he has signed up as an entrant on the 2019 Supercar GB Run. This is a driving tour organised by Supercar GB annually, which Mrs Phillips has been running as an enterprise for some years. There is absolutely no royal involvement within the Supercar GB events. Mrs Phillips has no involvement within Global Group Lifestyle and Sports Club.’
Last night Dr Hon said: ‘The Global Group Lifestyle and Sports Club is a VIP social gathering event management club (with interests of investing into the UK and European thoroughbred bloodstock industry) that we organise for our best clients.
‘One of the projects that we are promoting to the potential donors is to assist the good work of the Duke of Edinburgh Fellowship charity and if the clients or members make the required donations subject to strict due diligence on their
