Documents Show Queen Elizabeth Was ‘Very Keen’ For Ex-Prince Andrew To Become Trade Envoy
LONDON (AP) — Documents reveal Queen Elizabeth II. It shows that Elizabeth is “very keen” to give the post of British trade ambassador to the former Prince Andrew.
The UK government released secret documents about the appointment on Thursday, just months after MPs accused the king’s brother of damaging his friendship with the King. jeffrey epstein in front of the nation.
“The Queen is keen for the Duke of York to take on a significant role in promoting the national interest,” the head of Britain’s trade body wrote in a letter.
The late queen’s involvement will confirm previously held beliefs that the monarch had a soft spot for her son; It’s an empathy that may have influenced her lack of resolve in dealing with allegations of Andrew’s connection to Epstein.
MPs passed a motion in February demanding the release of the documents after the onetime prince, now known only as Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor, was arrested on charges related to allegations he shared government reports with Epstein while he was a trade envoy.
In a written statement to MPs, Business Secretary Chris Bryant said “we found no evidence that a formal due diligence or review process was undertaken” before Andrew’s appointment.
“There is also no evidence that this was considered. This is understandable because this new appointment was a continuation of the royal family’s involvement in trade and investment promotion following the Duke of Kent’s decision to step down as Deputy Chairman of the Overseas Trade Board,” he said.
He said the government was co-operating with Thames Valley Police on the investigation into Mountbatten-Windsor and possible misconduct in public office.
Mountbatten-Windsor was stripped of her royal title last year. King Charles III He sought to insulate the monarchy from the growing fallout of the Epstein scandal. The former prince served as special envoy for international trade from 2001 to 2011, when he was forced to step down amid concerns about his links to dubious figures in Libya and Azerbaijan.
The move comes after the US Department of Justice released millions of pages of documents on the matter. Epstein. These files showed how the wealthy financier used an international network of rich, powerful friends to gain influence and sexually exploit young women and girls.
Nowhere have the effects of the document’s release been felt more strongly than in the UK, where the scandal has raised questions about the wielding of power by the aristocracy, senior politicians and influential business owners known collectively as “the Establishment”.
Mountbatten-Windsor vehemently denied any wrongdoing.
