Britain’s late Queen Elizabeth II actively pushed for her son Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor to be appointed as a trade envoy, according to official documents from 2000 released by the government on Thursday.

The 11 documents detail the appointment process for the role Mountbatten-Windsor held from 2001 to 2011. The British government agreed to release the papers amid ongoing fallout from the Jeffrey Epstein scandal.

Following what was described as a “wide-ranging conversation” with the queen’s private secretary, British Trade International head David Wright wrote to the then foreign minister saying it was the queen’s “wish” that Andrew, who at the time held the title Duke of York, be given the position.

“The Queen is very keen that the Duke of York should take on a prominent role in the promotion of national interests,” Wright wrote in a letter dated 25 February 2000.

Mountbatten-Windsor was stripped of his remaining royal titles following the release of US files related to Epstein last year. In February, he was arrested on suspicion of misconduct in public office linked to the late American sex offender. He is accused of sharing sensitive information with Epstein during his time as an official trade envoy for Britain.

The former royal was released after hours of police questioning and has not been charged. He denies any wrongdoing.

No formal vetting process

The documents reveal that no formal background checks were conducted before the appointment. In a written statement to parliament, trade minister Chris Bryant said investigators “have found no evidence that a formal due diligence or vetting process was undertaken.”

Bryant added this was “understandable” as the “new appointment was a continuation of the Royal Family’s involvement in trade and investment promotion work”.

One document from January 2000 shows head of protocol Kathryn Colvin advised that Mountbatten-Windsor “should not be offered golfing functions abroad”. She also noted he preferred “more sophisticated countries” and “liked travelling, especially when on royal business”.

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Taxpayer-funded travel

The role with British Trade International, which promoted the UK abroad, was unpaid. However, during his tenure, the then-prince was dubbed “Air Miles Andy” as he travelled the world with expenses including luxury hotels covered by taxpayers.

Peter Mandelson, former UK ambassador to the US who was sacked over his ties to Epstein, is also being investigated for misconduct in public office related to his time as a government minister in the 2000s.

The Liberal Democrat party, which moved the government to release documents related to Mountbatten-Windsor, has also asked for the publication of any correspondence between Mandelson and the former royal.

Epstein connection

Mountbatten-Windsor has long been embroiled in scandals over his friendship with Epstein.

Virginia Giuffre, who died by suicide last year, claimed she was trafficked three times to have sex with the British royal, starting in 2001 and twice when she was 17.

Mountbatten-Windsor settled a US civil lawsuit in 2022 brought by Giuffre while not admitting liability.

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