UK Files Show No Vetting for Prince Andrew Envoy Role
The UK government has released documents relating to Prince Andrew’s appointment as a special representative for UK trade and investment, with ministers acknowledging there was no formal vetting process before the role was granted. The papers were published on Thursday after lawmakers pushed for their release, aiming to clarify how the decision was made.
In a written statement accompanying the publication, Trade Minister Chris Bryant said there was “no evidence that a formal due diligence or vetting process was undertaken” before Prince Andrew was appointed, POLITICO reported.
The documents were released following pressure from MPs earlier this year, with the material intended to shed light on what was known inside government at the time and who was involved in approving the appointment. The position, which put the Duke of York in a high-profile role linked to trade and investment, has remained controversial amid scrutiny of his public duties and connections.
The disclosure adds new detail to long-running questions about how the government handled the role, and comes amid renewed attention on the royal’s past official work, including claims that Queen Elizabeth was allegedly “very keen” on Prince Andrew’s trade envoy role.
Ministers are now facing calls to explain what safeguards existed at the time and whether any informal checks were carried out, as Parliament continues to examine how such appointments were managed and how similar roles should be handled in future.
