Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor cost taxpayers more than £2m during his final four years as trade envoy, The i Paper can reveal.
Following a report that he commissioned into his role in 2008 his expenses rose by 15 per cent in a year, from £561,325 to £649,044, after he was awarded more funds from the government – despite consultants identifying costs that could be reduced.
Mountbatten-Windsor clocked up £286,301 in expenses after he announced he would be stepping down as trade envoy in July 2011, following scrutiny of his friendship with convicted paedophile and financier Jeffrey Epstein. He carried out a further six international visits, including to Saudi Arabia and Singapore, with his final trip taking him to Thailand in the spring of 2012.
‘Eye-watering bills’
The former duke, who at the time was paid an annual sum of £249,000 by the Queen, did not receive a salary as trade envoy, but his travel and hotel stays, including those of his accompanying staff, were funded by taxpayers.
