Queen Elizabeth pushed for Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor to get trade role – and he wasn’t vetted, bombshell files show

Queen Elizabeth pushed for Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor to take on a major role as trade envoy, but Andrew was not considered for the role, newly released documents show.

In a note addressed to then foreign secretary Robin Cook in February 2000, Sir David Wright, then chief executive of British Trade International, wrote to Queen Elizabeth II. He said Elizabeth’s “wish” was for Andrew to take on the job.

Papers suggest the late Queen was “very keen” for the then-Duke of York to take on “a significant role in promoting the national interest”.

Sir David suggested his role would include some regional tours and two or three overseas visits each year, as well as “an occasional leading trade mission”.

He said: “Finally, we would like the Duke of York to receive prominent business visitors from abroad here in London and perhaps host meals or receptions where appropriate.”

The memo was published after ministers decided to release a tranche of files on his appointment in February; this gave him access to high-level government and business contacts around the world.

In a written statement to parliament following the release of the files, the government said it could find no evidence that official due diligence or security checks were carried out at the time.

Deputy trade secretary Chris Bryant said: “We found no evidence that a formal due diligence or review process was conducted. Nor is there any evidence that it was considered.”

It comes as Andrew faces accusations that he shared sensitive information with disgraced pedophile financier Jeffrey Epstein while serving as a special representative for trade and investment between 2001 and 2011.

According to the documents, the government was also told by his aide that he preferred to go to “sophisticated countries” and watch ballet rather than theater on foreign visits.

However, he “should not be offered private golf events abroad”. This was described as a “private activity” and “if he took his clubs with him he would not play in public”.

Andrew was arrested in February on suspicion of abuse of public office and was later released under investigation.

Ministers said they were working with Thames Valley Police to ensure any material released did not prejudice the police investigation.

Andrew became the UK’s special representative for international trade and investment in 2001, but resigned 10 years later amid outrage over his friendship with Epstein.

Although he was not paid a salary, he was criticized for the thousands of pounds spent on expenses and travel expenses each year.

Her role came the same year she was photographed with her arm around the shoulder of Virginia Giuffre, who said she was sold to the former Duke at the home of convicted sex trafficker Ghislaine Maxwell.

Ms Giuffre claimed she had sex with the former prince three times: at Maxwell’s London home, at Epstein’s New York mansion and on the disgraced financier’s Caribbean island of Little St James.

Andrew paid millions of pounds to settle a civil lawsuit filed in the US in 2022 against Ms Giuffre, a woman he claims he has never met.

The old prince vehemently denied any wrongdoing.

Liberal Democrats criticized the “little paper trail” published.

The party’s chief executive, Wendy Chamberlain, said: “It is shocking and deeply disturbing that Andrew was appointed to the role of trade envoy without any review. No one should be above these standards. It raises serious questions about why this was acceptable to officials and ministers at the time.”

“The lack of documentation provided is alarming in itself, as is the time taken to get this far. We must obtain all files from the government without delay and an explanation as to why there is such a small paper trail. And the government must commit to mandatory review of all similar appointments in the future.”

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