New allegations have cast renewed attention on Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor’s tenure as the UK’s trade representative, with former civil servants claiming he charged taxpayers for massage services alongside costly overseas travel.
The claims relate to Andrew’s time as the UK Special Representative for International Trade and Investment between 2001 and 2011, when he undertook global trips supported by public funds. According to retired officials who worked within the trade department, concerns were raised internally about certain expenses, including a disputed claim for “massage services” following an official visit to the Middle East.
One former civil servant described resisting the payment but ultimately being overruled by senior authorities. “I thought it was wrong… I’d said we mustn’t pay it, but we ended up paying it anyway,” he told the BBC. The Department for Business and Trade has not challenged the claim but pointed instead to an ongoing police investigation involving the former prince.
Although the role was unpaid, Andrew’s international engagements were funded by taxpayers, with civil servants providing logistical and administrative support. He has consistently denied any wrongdoing in connection with his public duties and has also rejected allegations tied to his association with convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein, maintaining he did not personally profit from his envoy position.
Reflecting on the situation years later, the former civil servant expressed regret that the issue was not escalated further. “I can’t say it would have stopped him, but we should have flagged that something was wrong,” he said, suggesting it may have signalled a need for closer scrutiny at the time.
A separate former senior Whitehall official, who had oversight of financial matters, corroborated the claims, stating he had “absolutely no doubt” about their authenticity. He described what he saw as excessive spending on flights, accommodation, and accompanying staff during Andrew’s trips, adding that financial controls appeared weak.
“I couldn’t believe it… it was like it wasn’t real money, they weren’t spending any of their own money,” the official said, noting that expenditure was often difficult to track due to fragmented budgeting and unclear records of personnel involved in trips. According to him, approvals were frequently given a “rubber stamp” rather than being properly examined.
The BBC reported that while there is no documentary proof of the massage expense itself from more than two decades ago, there is evidence confirming the whistleblowers’ proximity to the financial processes at the time. Importantly, no unlawful conduct has been established in relation to the claims.
The allegations have resurfaced amid wider scrutiny of Andrew’s past, including references in US legal proceedings linked to Jeffrey Epstein. In one statement, Epstein’s former employee Juan Alessi claimed that Andrew had a “daily massage” during visits. Separate email records also referenced payments for massages for an “Andrew”, though it remains unclear whether this referred to the former prince.
Biographer Andrew Lownie, who is revising his book Entitled, has argued that limited access to official records has made it difficult to fully assess Andrew’s time in the role. Several Freedom of Information requests have reportedly been denied, with authorities citing the scale of documentation involved.
Political pressure is now mounting, with lawmakers expected to consider an inquiry into the accountability of trade envoys. The Liberal Democrats are pushing for parliamentary debate, while former Conservative minister Tom Tugendhat has called for a formal investigation led by MPs, peers, and judges.
Additional criticism has come from another retired UK Trade and Investment official, who suggested Andrew’s presence on overseas trips could sometimes hinder rather than help diplomatic and trade efforts. “Andrew was seen as a liability. He went off script, he thought he was an expert, when he wasn’t. He thought he was funny, when he was being rude to people,” the official said.
He further noted that extensive preparations for visits could be undermined by unpredictable conduct, adding that officials were often reluctant to raise concerns at the time. “No one would complain, it wouldn’t help your reputation,” he said.
The Department for Business and Trade has clarified that Andrew’s position differs from today’s structured trade envoy roles, which now operate under more formal guidelines and oversight.
Meanwhile, legal developments continue to unfold. Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor was recently arrested by Thames Valley Police on suspicion of misconduct in public office, though no charges have been filed.
Ademide Adebayo
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