Queen Elizabeth II wanted ”prominent” role for Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor

The late Queen Elizabeth II wanted her second son, Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor, to be given a prominent role promoting ”national interests”.

Papers published by ministers show that the late Queen made it known that she was keen for Andrew to take on the role of trade envoy when her cousin, the Duke of Kent, decided to step back from it.

A memo to the then Foreign Secretary, Robin Cook, written in 2000 by Sir David Wright, who was then chief executive of British Trade International, said ”The Queen’s wish is that the Duke of Kent should be succeeded in this role by the Duke of York.”

The memo continues ”The Queen is very keen that the Duke of York should take a prominent role in the promotion of national interests. No other member of the Royal Family would be available to succeed the Duke of Kent.”

And it concludes ”The Duke of York’s adoption of his role would be a very natural fit.”

Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor took on the role in 2001, after the departure from it of the Duke of Kent.

The message is one of a number of papers shared by government ministers after the Liberal Democrats tabled a Humble Address calling for the publication of papers relating to Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor’s role as trade envoy and also to any vetting and correspondence from Peter Mandelson.

It follows fresh controversy about the friendship between Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor and Jeffrey Epstein, the convicted sex offender, with whom he maintained a relationship over many years.

The papers also shed some light on Andrew’s personality and demeanour. They include notes that the former prince said he preferred to visit what he called ”more sophisticated countries” – his role included large amounts of international travel as he represented British business concerns overseas.

And the same documents show that Andrew expressed a desire to see theatre rather than ballet and that his specialist interests included ”high-tech matters” as well as trade.

The papers released on May 21 don’t mention Peter Mandelson.

The call for publication also comes after Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor was arrested earlier this year on suspicion of misconduct in public office. He was released, without charge, under investigation after almost 12 hours in police custody.

The former prince lost his royal titles and honours in October 2025. King Chares removed his HRH and Prince through Letters Patent and asked the Lord Chancellor to strike the title of Duke of York from the Roll of Peerage.

Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor remains eighth in line to the throne. He now lives away from the public eye on a farm on the Sandringham estate, the private property of The King.