The U.K. government has released confidential papers regarding the 2001 appointment of Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor, the former Prince Andrew, as a U.K. trade envoy. The documents reveal that Queen Elizabeth II was very keen for her son to take on a prominent role in the promotion of national interests, according to a letter from the head of Britain's trade body.
The appointment later became controversial due to Mountbatten-Windsor's links to American sex offender Jeffrey Epstein. He has been accused of sharing secrets with Epstein during his time as trade envoy, leading lawmakers to accuse him of putting his friendship with Epstein ahead of the nation.
The documents were released following legislation passed by Parliament after an opposition party used a rare parliamentary device to request them. A government memo sent to trade staff around the world noted that Mountbatten-Windsor's high public profile would require careful and sometimes strict media management.
Mountbatten-Windsor was stripped of his royal title last year.