Andrew Used Taxpayers' Money for Massages During His Role as Trade Envoy, Claims Ex-Civil Servant

Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor attends day eleven of the Wimbledon Tennis Championship. (Cover Image Source: Getty Images | Karwai Tang/WireImage)

Feb. 24 2026, Published 07:04 AM. ET

Following Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor's arrest for misusing his role as the UK's trade envoy, ex-employees have come forward with more damaging revelations, raising fresh scrutiny about his alleged deplorable conduct in office. Now, several former civil servants claim that the former Duke of York enjoyed massages and taking multiple overseas trips, all at the cost of taxpayers' expense. They also revealed that when concerns were raised internally, senior staff dismissed the complaints, condoning the behavior rather than addressing it.

Andrew Mountbatten Windsor at the World Economic Forum. (Cover Image Source: Getty Images: Michel Euler-WPA Pool) — Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor at the World Economic Forum. (Image Source: Getty Images| Michel Euler-WPA Pool)

According to the BBC, a former civil servant, who worked in the UK's trade department more than two decades ago, was annoyed by Mountbatten-Windsor's request to cover 'massage services.' He said, "I thought it was wrong… I'd said we mustn't pay it, but we ended up paying it anyway," alleging that when the issue was flagged off, it was reportedly dismissed by senior officials. Meanwhile, the former Prince continues to deny any wrongdoing in relation to Jeffrey Epstein or misusing his role as a trade envoy to leak secret government information. The Department of Business and Trade has not yet challenged claims about his role.

Cover Image Source: Getty Images | Daniel Leal Olivas — Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor speaks at a gala commemorating the centenary of the British - Spanish Society. (Image Source: Getty Images | Daniel Leal Olivas)

In the wake of the Epstein files, the retired civil servant stressed that he should have done more to stop Mountbatten-Windsor from taking advantage of his position. He added, "I can't say it would have stopped him, but we should have flagged that something was wrong." Echoing the same, another anonymous Whitehall official claimed to have witnessed the former Prince indulging in similar behavior, casting 'absolutely no doubt' about its authenticity. The ex-official also expressed his shock at Mountbatten-Windsor's lavish spending as envoy, including excessive flights and unreasonable stays in hotel rooms for his entourage.

Weighing in on Mountbatten-Windsor's alleged lavish spending, he said, "I couldn't believe it… It was like it wasn't real money; they weren't spending any of their own money." He argued that costs were spread across multiple budgets, making them difficult to track, and there was little clarity about who would be included in his overseas trips. Moreover, they also described what they saw as a culture of deference toward the former Duke, with senior civil servants often hesitant to question him. According to his recollection, approvals for Andrew's trips were effectively given a 'rubber stamp,' without much seriousness.

Prince Andrew, Duke of York, who served in the Royal Navy during the Falklands conflict, attends a parade for Falkland Veterans, commemorating 25 years since the end of the Falklands War, at Horse Guards Parade on June 17, 2007 in London, England. (Photo by Tim Graham Photo Library via Getty Images) — Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor attends a parade for Falkland Veterans, commemorating 25 years since the end of the Falklands War. (Image Source: Getty Images| Tim Graham Photo Library)

Mountbatten-Windsor's alleged affinity for private wellness services is well-known within his social circles. In a US court statement, a former employee of Epstein in Florida, Juan Alessi, alleged that the former Prince had a 'daily massage' whenever he visited the disgraced financier. Additionally, in royal author Andrew Lownie's biography, Entitled: The Rise and Fall of the House of York, he mentioned that Mountbatten-Windsor regularly requested an ambassador to arrange a massage for him. A retired UKTI senior civil servant also stressed that when the former Duke of York was a trade envoy, he could sometimes disturb rather than support efforts to boost UK trade.