Confidential government documents released by the United Kingdom on Thursday reveal that Queen Elizabeth II actively pursued the appointment of the former Prince Andrew as a national trade envoy.
The disclosure follows an Associated Press report noting that lawmakers previously accused Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor of prioritizing his relationship with Jeffrey Epstein over national interests.
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A letter written by the head of Britain’s trade body explicitly outlined the monarch's direct involvement in securing the diplomatic position for the Duke of York.
"The Queen is very keen that the Duke of York should take on a prominent role in the promotion of national interests," the letter stated.
No Formal Vetting Process
Trade Minister Chris Bryant addressed the appointment process in a written statement to lawmakers, saying, "We have found no evidence that a formal due diligence or vetting process was undertaken."
Bryant explained that the lack of vetting was connected to historical precedents regarding royal participation in international trade promotion.
"There is also no evidence that this was considered.
This is understandable since this new appointment was a continuation of the royal family’s involvement in trade and investment promotion work following the Duke of Kent’s decision to relinquish his duties," Bryant said.
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Parliamentarians approved a motion demanding the release of these records in February, following the arrest of Mountbatten-Windsor on charges that he shared government reports with Epstein during his tenure as envoy.
The government is currently cooperating with the Thames Valley Police regarding their active investigation into potential misconduct in public office by Mountbatten-Windsor.
King Charles III stripped his brother of royal titles last year to protect the monarchy from the Epstein scandal fallout.
Mountbatten-Windsor previously held the special envoy position from 2001 to 2011, resigning after scrutiny over links to figures in Libya and Azerbaijan.
The controversy intensified following the release of millions of pages of Epstein-related documents by the U. S.
Justice Department, exposing how the financier leveraged powerful connections.
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Mountbatten-Windsor has vehemently denied any wrongdoing.
