Queen Elizabeth II was “very keen” for Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor to take on the role of UK trade envoy, documents released by the Government reveal.
The documents relate to discussions that took place at the highest levels of government and the Royal Family when Andrew was appointed to the role 25 years ago, a decision that has since attracted criticism because thousands of pounds of taxpayers’ money was spent on his expenses and travel costs.
They have revealed that the late Queen wished for her son to have a prominent role supporting the promotion of UK overseas trade correspondence between Sir David Wright, chief executive of British Trade International and the then Foreign Secretary Robin Cook show.
Shorts
In the letter from Wright, he states: “The Queen’s wish is that the Duke of Kent should be succeeded in this role by the Duke of York.”
