New Documents Reveal Queen Elizabeth Trusted Her Son Andrew With a Key Position
In February, Andrew was arrested after the allegations of possible misconduct in public office came to light.
Former Prince Andrew Windsor-Mountbatten has landed in trouble because of his links to Jeffrey Epstein. The support that he reportedly received from other senior members of the royal family in the past has also been a topic of discussion for the people. For instance, some of the reports from the past have suggested that the late Queen Elizabeth II stood by her son in private, even as his controversies came to light. In addition to that, the British government released confidential papers that highlighted how Queen Elizabeth was keen for Andrew to hold a major British trade position.
Documents revealed that the Queen strongly favored Andrew taking the position of UK trade envoy. Trade Minister Chris Bryant also told lawmakers that his team was unable to find any evidence that Andrew had undergone a formal background review or vetting process before stepping into the role. In a written letter, Bryant stated, “There is also no evidence that this was considered. This is understandable since this new appointment was a continuation of the royal family’s involvement in trade and investment promotion work following the Duke of Kent’s decision to relinquish his duties as Vice-Chairman of the Overseas Trade Board,” as reported by NBC News.
The minister further stated that the government is currently working alongside Thames Valley Police as they investigate the allegations of possible misconduct in public office by the former prince. Earlier this year, in February, Thames Valley Police arrested the disgraced royal on suspicion of misconduct following claims that he might have shared confidential government trade information with convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein during his time in the trade office. However, he was later released while the investigation continued, with no decision on charges announced so far.
It’s also worth noting that the recent documents were released as part of a parliamentary update to the House of Commons, and outlined how ministers and top officials moved forward with Andrew’s appointment after the Duke of Kent indicated he was ready to step back from his trade-related responsibilities. Meanwhile, Andrew spent a decade serving as the UK’s special envoy for international trade before he was forced to give up the position in 2011 as questions mounted over his ties to controversial figures like Epstein. But despite all the claims, the former prince has repeatedly denied any wrongdoing.
