The U.K. government's release of classified documents this week has shed new light on Queen Elizabeth II's role in securing a trade envoy post for Prince Andrew, The Associated Press reports.
A letter from the head of Britain's trade body states that "The Queen is very keen that the Duke $DUK -0.60% of York should take on a prominent role in the promotion of national interests." A separate internal memo circulated to British trade officials globally flagged that Andrew's "high public profile" would necessitate "careful and sometimes strict media management."
In a written statement to parliament, Trade Minister Chris Bryant disclosed that the review turned up "no evidence that a formal due diligence or vetting process was undertaken" ahead of Andrew's appointment, nor any indication that such a process had ever been contemplated. Bryant said the government was cooperating with Thames Valley Police on an investigation into Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor and possible misconduct in public office.
King Charles III moved to distance the monarchy from the Epstein controversy last year by stripping Mountbatten-Windsor of his royal title. The trade envoy role itself had already ended a decade earlier, in 2011, after questions arose about his ties to controversial individuals in Libya and Azerbaijan, according to The Associated Press.
