One ex-civil servant recounted refusing to approve a reimbursement for “therapeutic massage companies” following Andrew’s Center East go to within the early 2000s, deeming it inappropriate.
Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor – previously Prince Andrew (Picture: AFP by way of Getty Pictures)
Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor burdened UK taxpayers with extravagant bills—together with claims for massages—throughout his tenure because the nation’s commerce envoy from 2001 to 2011, it has been claimed. Whistleblowers, together with retired civil servants from the previous UK Commerce and Funding division, declare he charged for private indulgences and extreme journey prices, sparking renewed scrutiny amid his current arrest.
One ex-civil servant recounted refusing to approve a reimbursement for “therapeutic massage companies” following Andrew’s Center East go to within the early 2000s, deeming it inappropriate. A whistleblower revealed: “I assumed it was unsuitable… I would mentioned we mustn’t pay it, however we ended up paying it anyway.” Regardless of his objections, senior employees overruled him and allowed the declare to proceed. The function, whereas unpaid, supplied Andrew with help from the Civil Service and public funding for worldwide journeys geared toward selling British enterprise.
Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor arrives again at Sandringham
Andrew’s affiliation with convicted paedophile Jeffrey Epstein in the end led to his resignation as commerce envoy in 2011, amid mounting controversy. He has constantly and vehemently denied any wrongdoing associated to his ties to Epstein.
These revelations come from nameless sources who spoke to the BBC, which has verified their proximity to the occasions via documentary proof, although no direct proof of the 20-year-old therapeutic massage declare was seen.
The supply mentioned: “I can not say it will have stopped him, however we must always have flagged that one thing was unsuitable.”
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Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor and convicted paedophile Jeffrey Epstein (Picture: POOL/New York State Intercourse Offender)
A second former senior Whitehall official corroborated the accounts, expressing shock on the “lavish spending” he witnessed, together with inflated flight prices, pointless resort rooms, and entourage bills. The official acknowledged: “I could not consider it… it was prefer it wasn’t actual cash.”
He criticised the shortage of oversight and the scattering of prices throughout budgets. He attributed this to the deference proven to Andrew by prime officers, with journey approvals receiving mere “rubber stamps” somewhat than rigorous overview.
Earlier experiences have echoed Andrew’s purported affinity for massages. Epstein court docket paperwork point out a former worker claiming Andrew acquired “each day massages” throughout Florida visits, and emails reference funds for an “Andrew,” although it’s unconfirmed that this was the previous prince. Biographer Andrew Lownie’s guide “Entitled” additionally alleges Andrew requested a therapeutic massage by way of an envoy overseas.
The commerce envoy function concerned quite a few abroad engagements, equivalent to visits to China in 2004 and Indonesia in 2011. Nonetheless, one other retired UKTI official described Andrew as a “legal responsibility,” vulnerable to going off-script, rudeness, and disrupting commerce efforts regardless of months of preparation.
He even devised excuses to forestall Andrew’s visits to delicate areas, fearing adverse impacts.
Lownie, who first heard from the whistleblowers whereas updating his biography, has decried the opacity surrounding Andrew’s tenure, with Freedom of Info requests denied as a result of huge archives—over 1,900 recordsdata for one 12 months alone.
In present developments, MPs on the Enterprise and Commerce Committee are set to debate an inquiry into commerce envoys’ accountability this week. The federal government is contemplating Andrew’s removing from the royal line of succession, following his arrest by Thames Valley Police on suspicion of misconduct in public workplace. He was launched underneath investigation on Friday.
The Division for Enterprise and Commerce famous Andrew’s function differed from trendy envoys, who comply with strict conduct guidelines. Sources inside the Cupboard Workplace recommend that whereas the trendy system is strong, they’re reviewing historic paperwork from Andrew’s decade-long tenure.
These accusations, whereas not suggesting illegality, underscore requires transparency in royal public roles.
Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor has been contacted for remark.
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