From 49m agoLate queen was 'very keen' for Andrew to take on trade envoy role, memo revealsThe late Queen was “very keen” for Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor to take on a “prominent role in the promotion of national interests”, a senior official told the then-foreign secretary before he was appointed trade envoy in 2001. The Press Association says:
double quotation markIn a memo addressed to Robin Cook dated 25 February 2000, then-chief executive of British Trade International Sir David Wright said Queen Elizabeth II’s “wish” had been for Andrew, then the Duke of York, to take on the job.
Wright 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 senior official said he “did not envisage that the Duke of York would want to be burdened with the regularity of meetings of the board of British Trade International or the burden of paper which goes along with the board membership”.
