A batch of paperwork referring to Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor’s time as commerce envoy have been launched.
Queen Elizabeth was ‘very eager’ for Andrew to tackle commerce envoy position (Picture: Getty)
The late Queen Elizabeth was “very eager” for her son Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor to tackle a “outstanding position within the promotion of nationwide pursuits”, and particularly requested for him to be appointed as UK commerce envoy, new paperwork reveal. Then-chief government of British Commerce Worldwide, Sir David Wright, stated in a memo that the monarch noticed her son as being “a pure match” for the job.
The doc is among the many tranche of information referring to Andrew’s 2001 appointment as commerce envoy that the Authorities has launched at the moment. The previous Duke of York faces accusations of sharing delicate info with paedophile Jeffrey Epstein whereas appearing as a particular consultant for commerce and funding between 2001 and 2011.
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In a memo to the then-foreign and commerce secretaries on 25 February 2000, Sir David Wright wrote: “The Queen’s want is that the Duke of Kent ought to be succeeded on this position by the Duke of York. The Duke of Kent is to relinquish his tasks round April subsequent 12 months. That will match nicely with the tip of the Duke of York’s energetic naval profession.
“The Queen may be very eager that the Duke of York ought to tackle a outstanding position within the promotion of nationwide pursuits. No different member of The Royal Household can be out there to succeed the Duke of Kent. The Duke of York’s adoption of his position would appear a pure match.”
Sir David was recalling a dialog he had with the Queen’s Non-public Secretary the day earlier than. On the time of writing, the late Queen’s cousin, Prince Edward, Duke of Kent, typically represented British commerce pursuits overseas in numerous associated roles.
The information are being launched after the Liberal Democrats requested their publication in February, following the previous prince’s arrest on suspicion of misconduct in public workplace.
Lib Dem chief Sir Ed Davey requested the Authorities to launch all papers associated to the Authorities’s creation of the position of particular consultant for commerce and funding and Mountbatten-Windsor’s appointment to it in 2001. It’s supposed to incorporate recommendation concerning Andrew’s suitability for the appointment, due diligence and vetting by Tony Blair’s Authorities.
Andrew’s position as commerce envoy gave him entry to senior Authorities and enterprise contacts worldwide. He stepped down from the position in 2011 when he got here underneath hearth for his hyperlinks to Epstein.
He acquired no wage for travelling all over the world and for selling Britain’s enterprise pursuits at residence, however he confronted criticism for the 1000’s of kilos spent every year on his bills and journey.
The 31 pages of paperwork launched at the moment embrace press briefing notes for Andrew forward of an interview with the Occasions, the place he was given prompts to questions, together with: “Why do you suppose individuals exterior Britain will hearken to you?”
And one Q&A doc despatched to assist the media’s reporting when the previous duke’s position was introduced, solutions the query: “However he’s not very skilled. Why not somebody higher positioned?”
Andrew was arrested in February over allegations of misconduct in public workplace (Picture: Getty)
The reply given reads: “The significance of the Duke’s involvement lies within the excessive profile and dedication he is ready to give to this work as a Member of the Royal Household. It’s a continuation of the Royal Household’s involvement in commerce and funding promotion following HRH The Duke of Kent’s resolution to relinquish his duties final April. The Duke will carry invaluable assist and visibility to British Commerce Worldwide’s actions at residence and abroad.”
The identical briefing doc, titled ‘Basic Q&A on the Duke’s position’, additionally denied allegations that Andrew had workplace bills of £100,000.
In response, the Palace writes: “There has by no means been a requirement for any cost for workplace bills. It was clear from the beginning that solely bills incurred on BTI enterprise will likely be coated in HRH’s position. That is by mutual settlement with Buckingham Palace.”
These paperwork are sometimes launched when the Palace makes bulletins to assist present steerage to reporting.
A ministerial assertion on the publication of the information can also be anticipated on Thursday afternoon.
The Division of Enterprise and Commerce was main the work to trawl by information spanning “a number of legacy our bodies and codecs”, commerce minister Sir Chris Bryant stated in March.
“We’ve got established a course of with the Cupboard Workplace and Thames Valley Police to make sure that any materials launched doesn’t prejudice the police investigation,” he stated on the time.
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