Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor was the UK’s trade envoy between 2001 and 2011, during which time it is alleged the former royal shared confidential information with Jeffery Epstein
A former business secretary has called for a probe into possible corruption during Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor’s time as trade envoy for the United Kingdom.
Sir Vince Cable served as the United Kingdom‘s secretary of state for business and trade between 2010 and 2015. He told the BBC: “We need a police or DPP (director of public prosecutions) check on whether criminal corruption took place and a government investigation into how this was allowed to happen.”
The call for an investigation comes after documents released by the United States Department of Justice appeared to show the former prince sharing confidential reports with disgraced financier Jeffery Epstein during his role as the UK’s trade envoy.
Andrew served as trade envoy between 2001 and 2011.
The UK government guidance states that the role of a trade envoy carries a duty of confidentiality regarding sensitive information and the duty of confidentiality continues to apply after the expiry of their term of office.
Thames Valley Police have said they held discussions with specialists from the Crown Prosecution Service about the allegations.
The force said that while it cannot provide timescales over when a decision as to whether a criminal investigation will be opened, it can assure that it is making progress as quickly as possible.
The former duke made the visits to three Asian countries in his capacity as trade envoy in late 2010, which involved conducting meetings and trade talks.
An email dated November 2010 was forwarded by the former duke five minutes after being sent by his then-special advisor, Amir Patel.
Andrew told BBC’s Newsnight in 2019 that he had cut contact with the late Epstein in December 2010.
In February 2011, Andrew told Epstein he had visited a private equity firm and “thought of you” as the financier, who was reportedly “looking for somewhere for money to go”.
Andrew features several times in the US Department of Justice’s documents relating to Epstein. Appearing or being named in the files does not imply wrongdoing.
Andrew has continually and strenuously denied any wrongdoing.