Thames Valley Police are currently examining a complaint from anti-monarchy group Republic. The group claims that Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor may have shared sensitive trade information with Jeffrey Epstein, raising concerns about confidentiality breaches.
Emails Suggest Possible Disclosure of Official Reports
According to emails recently released by the US government, the former prince may have sent Epstein details of his official trips to Singapore, Hong Kong, and Vietnam. Moreover, the emails reportedly included confidential investment opportunities. Under official guidance, trade envoys are required to keep such information private.
Andrew Responds, Denying Wrongdoing
The former Duke of York, who served as a trade envoy from 2001 to 2011, has yet to comment. However, he has consistently denied any misconduct. Importantly, being mentioned in the Epstein files does not automatically indicate wrongdoing.
Specific Instances of Alleged Information Sharing
Documents obtained by the BBC suggest that on 7 October 2010, Andrew emailed Epstein details of upcoming official visits. He was accompanied by Epstein’s business associates during trips to several countries. Furthermore, on 30 November, he allegedly forwarded official reports from his special assistant, Amit Patel, to Epstein, just five minutes after receiving them.
In another email exchange in 2010, Andrew appeared to send Epstein a confidential briefing on investment opportunities in Afghanistan, which were managed by the UK government and the armed forces. At the time, Business Secretary Sir Vince Cable said he had no prior knowledge of this information being shared.
Over a year later, Andrew reportedly reached out again to alert Epstein to a new investment opportunity with a private equity firm he had recently visited. Notably, all of these communications took place after Epstein’s 2008 conviction for child sex offences.
Duty of Confidentiality for Trade Envoys
Trade envoy guidance emphasizes that although envoys are not civil servants, they must maintain confidentiality regarding sensitive commercial or political information. This duty continues even after their term ends, and it is reinforced by the Official Secrets Acts of 1911 and 1989. Consequently, any disclosure to unauthorized parties could be a serious breach.
Police Confirm Assessment
Thames Valley Police confirmed they received the complaint and are assessing the situation according to standard procedures. Meanwhile, scrutiny of the former prince’s actions continues to raise questions about adherence to official protocols.
