The late Queen was “very keen” for Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor to take on a “prominent role in the promotion of national interests” before he was appointed trade envoy, newly released documents show.
In a memo to then-foreign secretary Robin Cook, senior official Sir David Wright said the monarch’s “wish” had been for the then-Duke of York to succeed her cousin the Duke of Kent in the job.
The then-chief executive of British Trade International said he had a “wide-ranging” discussion with the Queen’s private secretary before proposing a “suitable role” be identified for her son as his career in the Royal Navy came to an end.
He said he “did not envisage that the Duke of York would want to be burdened with the regularity of meetings of the board” of BTI or “the burden of paper which goes along with the board membership”.
“The Queen is very keen that the Duke of York should take on a prominent role in the promotion of national interests,” Sir David wrote in the memo, dated February 25 2000.
“The Duke of Kent is to relinquish his responsibilities around April next year. That would fit well with the end of the Duke of York’s active naval career.”
The memo was released on Thursday as part of a trove of files related to Andrew’s appointment to the post, which gave him access to senior government and business contacts around the world.
He 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 paedophile financier Jeffrey Epstein.
Another document showed efforts were made to stop Andrew, who earned the nicknames “Air Miles Andy” and “Playboy Prince” for his globe-trotting and apparent penchant for leisure, from being offered “golfing functions” overseas.
The then-duke also “tended to prefer the more sophisticated countries” and favoured “ballet rather than the theatre”, according to the files.
A letter from then-head of protocol division Kathryn Colvin said: “Captain Blair (Andrew’s then-personal private secretary) particularly asked that the Duke of York should not be offered golfing functions abroad.
“This was a private activity and if he took his clubs with him he would not play in any public sense.”
Ms Colvin wrote that she had been told he was “particularly good on high-tech matters, trade, youth (including primary schools and outward bound projects), cultural events, with a preference for ballet rather than theatre, the Commonwealth and military and foreign affairs”.
Staff at BTI were also warned that the then-duke’s “high public profile (not, of course, exclusive to his BTI function)” would require “careful and sometimes strict media media management”.
The internal telegram sent in September 2001 said this would be “an important factor in considering engagements for inclusion in the programme” with initial proposals requiring a media strategy to be developed jointly with the Palace.
Some lines have been redacted, which the Government says is to “remove the bare minimum of personal information and information whose release would prejudice international relations”.
In another memo dated January 2000, Ms Colvin said “Sir D Wright” would “welcome” the then-prince, who already conducted some overseas trips, taking on “more commitments,” and had “in mind that that the Duke of York would play a similar role to that of the Duke of Kent.”
Efforts also appear to have been made to prepare for questions from the press about Andrew’s qualifications for the role.
One briefing document, titled “media Q&A for Duke of York role announcement”, says: “But he is not very experienced. Why not someone better placed?”
The suggested answer says: “The importance of the Duke of York’s involvement lies in the high profile and commitment he is able to give to this as a member of the royal family.”
It adds: “The Duke will bring valuable support and visibility to BTI’s activities at home and abroad.”
Another answer elsewhere in the tranche suggests the then-prince say: “Has been a steep learning curve for me. But I relish the challenge. Hope to make a difference.”
Andrew received no salary for travelling around the world and at home promoting Britain’s business interests, but criticisms were made about the thousands of pounds spent each year on his expenses and travel costs.
His decision to quit the role came in the same year he was pictured with his arm around his primary accuser, Virginia Giuffre, who said she was trafficked to the former duke at the home of convicted sex trafficker Ghislaine Maxwell.
Andrew paid Ms Giuffre, a woman he has claimed never to have met, millions of pounds to settle a civil suit in the US in 2022.
The former duke also faces accusations of sharing sensitive information with Epstein during his time as trade envoy.
Thursday’s publication comes after the Liberal Democrats tabled Commons motion demanding the Government release files related to his appointment, including any vetting and any correspondence from disgraced former US ambassador Lord Peter Mandelson.
It is shocking that Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor was made a trade envoy with no vetting. Nobody should be above basic standards. The government must commit to mandatory vetting for future roles.
— Liberal Democrats (@LibDems) May 21, 2026
The survivors of Jeffrey Epstein deserve a full public inquiry into his UK links. pic.twitter.com/8uBGztvhIJ
Trade minister Sir Chris Bryant said the Government had found “no evidence” of any formal due diligence of checks having been carried out before he took on the role.
He said this was “understandable” in light of Andrew’s appointment being a “continuation of the royal family’s involvement in trade and investment promotion” and succeeding the Duke of Kent’s similar position.
Downing Street said a further tranche of files relating to the appointment were to be published at a future date, but Sir Chris appeared to contradict this while addressing the Commons later on Thursday.
“I guarantee the House that if there is more to publish, I will come back to the House with more, but I suspect this may be our last tranche,” he said.
Andrew was arrested in February on suspicion of misconduct in public office and later released under investigation.
The former prince has vehemently denied any wrongdoing.
Sir Chris said he had thought the police might ask for some material not to be released but that they had allowed the Government to publish “everything”.
Any redactions were “minor” and only made where the content had “absolutely nothing to do with Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor”, he told MPs.
But the Lib Dems criticised the “small paper trail” released by the Government and said it was “deeply troubling” the former prince had been appointed without any vetting.
“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,” chief whip Wendy Chamberlain said.
