Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor has mounting difficulties. The former prince faces new allegations that increase pressure on his past role as a trade envoy. Scrutiny has intensified after the US Department of Justice (DOJ) released millions of documents linked to the late sex offender Jeffrey Epstein. The files contained emails between the two calling on the British royal family to strip Andrew of his titles in October last year.
Here are the main updates in Andrew’s case:
1. Retired civil servants have alleged that Andrew used taxpayers’ money for massages and excessive travel expenses during his time as the UK’s trade envoy, the BBC reported.
According to the report, a former civil servant who worked in the trade envoy’s department in the early 2000s claimed that he was so upset by the former prince’s demand to cover the cost of his “massage services” that he refused to approve the payment. However, he said he was overruled by senior staff.
“I thought it was wrong… I said we can’t pay it, but in the end we paid it anyway,” he added.
Andrew’s trade ambassador position was unpaid; however, he was supported by civil servants and continued to receive taxpayer-funded support for foreign travel.
Amid intense scrutiny of Andrew’s correspondence with Epstein, the retired civil servant said that while they could not have stopped him at the time, they should have reported when something was wrong.
2. Members of Parliament (MPs) on the Trade and Commerce Committee are expected to meet on Tuesday (local time) to consider launching an investigation into the role of British trade envoys following Andrew’s arrest. A cross-party committee is expected to discuss options after Andrew was accused of sharing confidential information with Jeffrey Epstein while he was still in the role.
3. Meanwhile, the Lib Dems are now preparing to push for a debate on Andrew in the House of Commons. Former Conservative minister Tom Tugendhat has called for an independent inquiry into the former prince, suggesting it be overseen by a panel made up of MPs, members of the House of Lords and senior judges.
4. On February 20 (local time), British Defense Secretary Luke Pollard told the BBC that the government was considering possible legislation to remove Andrew, currently eighth in line, from his seat. Speaking to BBC Radio 4’s Any Questions programme, Pollard said the UK government was working with Buckingham Palace on plans to prevent Andrew from being “potentially removed from the throne”.
5. On February 19 (local time), Andrew was arrested by Thames Police on suspicion of misconduct in a public office after his role as a trade ambassador came under fire. Documents released by the Justice Department revealed that Andrew shared confidential government information with Epstein in November 2010 minutes after he received the documents after returning from Asia.
Read also | What is “misconduct in public office”? Andrew arrested in Great Britain
6. After his arrest, Andrew was released 11 hours later. Separately, Thames Valley Police said it was continuing to search Royal Lodge, his former home in Windsor, in connection with his arrest.
Read also | Virginia Giuffre’s family on Andrew’s arrest: ‘No one is above the law’
7. According to a BBC report, the Metropolitan Police said they are now trying to identify and contact former and serving officers who worked closely with Andrew in a protection role. The force added: “They have been asked to carefully consider whether anything they saw or heard during this period of service may be relevant to our ongoing checks and to share any information that may assist us.”
