Britain's late Queen Elizabeth pressed almost three decades ago for her son Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor to be made a government trade envoy, and there is no evidence of due diligence or security vetting before his appointment, according to documents released on Thursday.

The confidential documents released by the British government relate to the appointment of Mountbatten-Windsor, formerly known as Prince Andrew, to his role as special representative for trade and investment between 2001 and 2011.

An opposition party had requested the publication of files relating to the appointment three months ago, after the US Justice Department released emails that suggested Mountbatten-Windsor shared sensitive information with late sex offender Jeffrey Epstein while in the role.

The documents released on Thursday included a memo dated February 2000 in which David Wright, who was chief executive of British Trade International – a now defunct government organisation set up to promote trade, said Elizabeth had been "very keen" for Mountbatten-Windsor to be given the job.

"The Queen's wish is that the Duke of Kent should be succeeded in this role [as trade envoy] by the Duke of York,” Wright said in the memo to former Foreign Secretary Robin Cook, referring to Mountbatten-Windsor's previous title.

Queen Elizabeth died in 2022.

The British government released 31 pages of documents after the opposition Liberal Democrats used a rare parliamentary device to request the publication of files relating to how Mountbatten-Windsor was given the role, including on any vetting.

Mountbatten-Windsor this year became the first member of the British royal family to be arrested in more than three centuries when he was questioned on suspicion of misconduct in public office.

He has always denied any wrongdoing in relation to Epstein and said he regrets their friendship. (Reuters)


Edited by Aaron Tam