Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor commissioned a glowing report into his role as trade envoy that prompted a boost to his taxpayer-funded expenses, The i Paper can reveal.
The former prince served as the UK’s special representative for international trade and investment from 2001 to 2011 in what was an unpaid role but with his travel and related expenses, plus staffing costs, funded by the government.
Now, The i Paper can reveal that Mountbatten-Windsor commissioned an “independent strategic review” of his role in early 2008, which found that he was “highly valuable UK asset” and led to an increase in taxpayer funding.
Details of the review were found in a contract listed in the Epstein files from when Andrew’s office was expanded in June 2009, and Philip Yea, the former chief executive of 3i Group plc, was hired to work with the royal as a senior business adviser.
Mountbatten-Windsor’s private secretary sent Yea a hiring pack, including background information relating to the creation of his new role, which he held until 2014. It stated that the then-duke had developed his trade role “significantly” and described the outcome of the review.
It said: “The review indicated that HRH was highly valued by UK businesses and that he should continue to develop the role as a unique and highly valuable UK asset.
“The government agreed and provided strong endorsement with increased funding to support the duke’s activities.”
The HR documents were on official headed paper and marked confidential. (Photo: DOJ) The background information in the HR documents shows the then-duke’s trade activities gained boosted funding (Photo: DOJ)The review by PricewaterhouseCoopers (PwC) took place after Mountbatten-Windsor attracted years of negative headlines for eye-watering expenses, gaining the nickname Air Miles Andy for his penchant for expensive travel.
Andrew’s role took him on expenses-paid delegations all over the world – but over the years his critics queried why his trips abroad on government business seemed to coincide with travelling to exotic locations and via ski slopes and top golf courses.
According to previously published accounts of the royal household – his travel expenses came to more than £350,000 for five trips that he made during 2010-11.
At the time of the review, a royal source was quoted by The Daily Telegraph as saying: “There is not a word of criticism about the prince in the PWC report and it is hugely supportive of his work – though it is not always easy to quantify how much of the deal-clinching is down to him.”
The government signed off a bigger budget for Mountbatten-Windsor’s expenses while carrying out his trade work following the review. It is understood this paid for accommodation, travel and other related expenses for the former duke and his staff.
The PwC report recommended a reduction could be made in travel costs, as well as regular audits.
The cost of his international trips subsequently reduced from £760,000 to £435,000 after he cut down on his use of private jets which he’d been criticised for.
However, the PwC report recommended a reduction in travel costs and regular audits. The cost of his international trips subsequently reduced from £760,000 to £435,000 after he cut down on his use of private jets.
The National Audit Office had earlier criticised his use of private helicopters and cited an example of the then-prince using an RAF plane to get to St Andrews to play golf.
A screenshot of one of Mountbatten-Windsor’s annual reports published on the official Duke of York website (Photo: thedukeofyork.org)Following media reports about excessive spending, Mountbatten-Windsor began publishing annual reports on his own website in 2009. He published some of the findings from the PwC review in his first annual report in October of that year after MPs had earlier queried whether its contents had been suppressed.
The HR documents relating to Yea’s appointment from the Epstein files also shed light on the perks of the job and the expectations those working with the former prince faced.
They stated “at all times conduct yourself in a manner appropriate to that of a senior member of the household of his royal highness the duke of York” and also warned that “breaches of the regulations relating to security and confidentiality may lead to withdrawal of your security pass and immediate termination of this agreement”.
The special adviser role was unpaid but offered paid expenses and the option of lunch at Buckingham Palace on days spent working with the royal. Access to receptions held at Buckingham Palace with a business focus was also offered.
Mountbatten-Windsor was arrested on suspicion of misconduct in public office in February after emails contained in the Epstein files appeared to show him sharing confidential documents with convicted paedophile and financier Jeffrey Epstein during his time as UK trade envoy.
Police are widening the scope of their investigation into the former duke of York to include allegations of sexual misconduct. Officers are assessing a claim that Epstein sent a woman to the UK to have sex with Mountbatten-Windsor at Royal Lodge, his former home in Windsor.
Mountbatten-Windsor and Buckingham Palace were contacted for comment.
A Government spokesperson said: “The Government is fully co-operating with Thames Valley Police on their ongoing investigation.
“It remains a fundamental principle that no one is above the law, and all allegations are taken seriously.”
A Thames Valley spokesperson said: “We cannot go into details of the investigation, but we are following all reasonable lines of enquiry. We encourage anyone with relevant information to come forward through the usual non-emergency police contact channels.”
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