Britain Releases Files on Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor Trade Envoy Appointment

The British government on Thursday released documents showing no evidence of formal vetting before Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor’s appointment as trade envoy in 2001. Trade Minister Chris Bryant told lawmakers the absence of due diligence was understandable because the role continued the royal family’s tradition of promoting British interests abroad.

A 41-page dossier released by the Department for Business and Trade includes a February 2000 memo in which David Wright, then chief executive of British Trade International, wrote that “the Queen’s wish” was for Mountbatten-Windsor to serve as trade envoy.

Wright added that the role would “fit well” with the end of Mountbatten-Windsor’s career in the British Navy. Another document from January 2000 recorded Mountbatten-Windsor’s preference for visiting “more sophisticated countries” and noted he should not be offered golfing functions abroad.

Mountbatten-Windsor served as the unpaid special representative for international trade and investment from 2001 until he stepped down in 2011 over his ties to convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein. U.S. Department of Justice files raised questions about whether he shared confidential travel details with Epstein while serving as envoy. Mountbatten-Windsor has denied any wrongdoing.

“We have found no evidence that a formal due diligence or vetting process was undertaken. ”

The government said it does not expect to release additional files on the appointment.