Queen Elizabeth pushed for Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor to get a prominent role as a trade envoy – and he was not vetted for the role, according to newly released documents.
In a memo addressed to the then foreign secretary Robin Cook in February 2000, then-chief executive of British Trade International Sir David Wright said Queen Elizabeth II’s “wish” had been for Andrew to take on the job.
The late Queen was “very keen” for the then Duke of York to take on a “prominent role in the promotion of national interests”, the papers show.
Sir David suggested the role would include some regional trips and two or three overseas visits each year, as well as a “leading trade mission from time to time”.
He said: “Finally, we would want the Duke of York to be available to receive prominent trade visitors from overseas here in London and perhaps act as host at meals or receptions as appropriate.”
The memo has been released after ministers agreed in February to release a tranche of files related to his appointment to the post, which gave him access to senior government and business contacts around the world.
In a written statement to parliament to accompany the release of the files, the government said it found no evidence that formal due diligence or security vetting was carried out at the time.
“We have found no evidence that a formal due diligence or vetting process was undertaken. There is also no evidence that this was considered,” Chris Bryant, a junior trade minister, said.
It comes as Andrew faces accusations of sharing sensitive information with the disgraced paedophile financier Jeffrey Epstein while acting as a special representative for trade and investment between 2001 and 2011.
Sarah Owen, the Labour MP who chairs the Commons Women and Equalities Committee, hit out at the lack of vetting. She told The Independent: “Everyone should be subjected to the same due diligence, with no exceptions.”
The Liberal Democrats said it was “shocking and deeply troubling that Andrew was appointed to the trade envoy role with no vetting.”
The government was also told by his aide that he preferred to go to “sophisticated countries” and to see ballet rather than theatre on overseas visits, the documents show.
However, he “should not be offered private golfing functions abroad”. This was described as a “private activity” and “if he took his clubs with him he would not play in any public sense”. Andrew was nicknamed “Air Miles Andy” and “Playboy Prince” for his globe-trotting and his leisure activities, including his love of golf.
Andrew was arrested in February on suspicion of misconduct in public office and later released under investigation.
Ministers say they have worked with Thames Valley Police to ensure that any material released does not prejudice the police investigation.
Andrew became the UK’s special representative for international trade and investment in 2001 but stepped down 10 years later amid the furore over his friendship with Epstein.
Although he was not paid, he had faced criticisms about the thousands of pounds spent each year on his expenses and travel costs.
He quit the role came the same year he was pictured with his arm around Virginia Giuffre, who said she was trafficked 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 home in London, at Epstein’s New York townhouse and on the disgraced financier’s Caribbean island, Little St James.
Andrew paid Ms Giuffre millions of pounds to settle a civil suit in the US in 2022, a woman he has claimed never to have met.
The former prince has vehemently denied any wrongdoing.
Lib Dem chief whip Wendy Chamberlain said: “It is shocking and deeply troubling that Andrew was appointed to the trade envoy role with no vetting. Nobody should be above such standards. This raises serious questions about why officials and ministers at the time thought that was acceptable.
“The lack of documentation provided is itself concerning, as is the time it has taken to get this far. We must get the full files from government without delay, and an explanation about why there is such a small paper trail. And the government must commit to mandatory vetting for all similar appointments in future.“
Ms Owen said: “We must expect the highest standards for all who operate in public office domestically and representing our country overseas. Everyone should be subjected to the same due diligence, with no exceptions. The days of appointing people without due process because of their family ties or other privileges must be condemned to the past.”