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Queen Elizabeth II was "very keen" for her son Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor to become a trade envoy in 2000, according to newly released files.

The files relating to Mountbatten-Windsor's trade envoy role were released by the government in response to a request by the Liberal Democrats.

Trade Minister Chris Bryant told MPs he does not expect further materials to be published in relation to the request.

Mountbatten-Windsor stepped down from the role in 2011 amid scrutiny over his relationship with disgraced financier Jeffrey Epstein.

Here are some of the main findings from today's files release:

• Queen Elizabeth II was 'very keen' on Andrew's appointment, memo shows
• No evidence of formal vetting process in Andrew's appointment, minister says
• Andrew preferred to visit 'sophisticated countries', letter says

We're now ending our live coverage, you can read more in our news story here.

Image source, Reuters

Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor was stripped of his "prince" title last year, and was arrested in February on suspicion of misconduct in public office. Here's a recap:

Loses titles and mansion: In October 2025, Buckingham Palace says Mountbatten-Windsor is losing his prince title and Royal Lodge home in Windsor. He voluntarily gave up other titles earlier that month.

Arrest: On 19 February - his 66th birthday - Mountbatten-Windsor is arrested on suspicion of misconduct in public office.

Massage claims: Later that month, retired civil servants claim Mountbatten-Windsor charged taxpayers for massages and excessive travel costs while working as trade envoy. There is nothing unlawful suggested.

Decision to release files: On 24 February, MPs back a move to release files related to Mountbatten-Windsor's appointment as trade envoy after a "humble address" from the Lib Dems. Trade Minister Chris Bryant says the government will comply "as fast as we possibly can".

Files released: That brings us to today, when 11 files have been released. Bryant says the government has found "no evidence" that a formal vetting process was carried out before Mountbatten-Windsor's appointment.

Lib Dem spokesperson Wendy Chamberlain says it has been three months since her party's humble address, which triggered today's document drop.

In that time, she says the government has only published one written statement which told us "very little".

She asks when Trade Minister Chris Bryant will know for sure whether there are more documents to be released.

She also says the documents published today show concerns about conflicts of interest. She asks why that didn't lead to any scrutiny or vetting, adding that the "guardrails were not in place".

Bryant responds by saying he is a "bit miffed" by the attitude of the Lib Dem front bench.

He says he has been "as open as possible" with them, adding that they indicated privately that they were happy with the government's progress.

Image source, House of Commons

Chris Bryant uses his opening remarks to reiterate what was in his written statement earlier today.

Shadow trade minister Harriett Baldwin asks if any further documents relating to Mountbatten-Windsor's appointment will be released, and if so, when.

"I suspect that this may be our last tranche," Bryant replies.

"I think this is everything we have come across so far, certainly. Of course we will keep on looking," he says, noting the difficulties of locating historical paper documents across different departments.

If more are found, I will come back to the House of Commons with them, Bryant adds.

We're now hearing from Trade Minister Chris Bryant.

He's delivering a statement in the Commons following the publication of 11 documents, all related to the appointment of Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor as trade envoy in 2001. He earlier gave a written statement.

You can watch live at the top of the page.

Image source, PA Media

Earlier today, the government released documents about the appointment of Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor as the UK's trade envoy in 2001. Here's an overview of what we've learned.

Queen Elizabeth wanted Andrew in the role: It was the "wish" of Elizabeth II, the late queen, for her son to take over as "trade envoy", according to a memo from David Wright, chief executive of British Trade International.

Wright's memo followed a "wide-ranging discussion" with the Queen’s private secretary, and was written to the then-foreign secretary, Robin Cook. The memo said the Queen was "very keen" for Mountbatten-Windsor to take on a "prominent role in the promotion of national interests".

A preference for visiting 'the more sophisticated countries': Mountbatten-Windsor had a preference for visiting "the more sophisticated countries", and "should not be offered golfing functions abroad", according to a letter dated 25 January 2000 and written by British diplomat Kathryn Colvin.

Ballet rather than theatre: Colvin's letter - written after a meeting with Andrew's then-private secretary Captain Neil Blair - added that Andrew was "particularly good on high-tech matters, trade, youth (including primary schools and outward bound projects), cultural events, with a preference for ballet rather than theatre, the Commonwealth and military and foreign affairs".

'No evidence' of formal vetting process: As the files were released, trade minister Chris Bryant says no evidence was found of any "formal due diligence or vetting process" for the appointment, or that such a process was considered. He says "this is understandable since this new appointment was a continuation of the Royal Family's involvement". The Duke of Kent held a similar role before Andrew.

The idea that you would have vetted Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor for his role as trade envoy in 2001 is an "anachronism" and "completely alien", says Lord Turnbull, a former civil servant who was permanent secretary to the Treasury at the time.

"It would never have arisen," he tells Radio 4's World at One programme.

As a prince and duke, he was "showered with honours" and vetting him would have meant asking whether he was "fit and proper", he says.

Nobody was going to suggest this, Turnbull says, especially if - as today's documents show - the late Queen's wish was for Andrew to have the role.

"I don't think it [vetting] entered anyone's head," he says.

For context: In a statement released today, Trade Minister Chris Bryant says there is "no evidence" that a formal vetting process took place.

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Today's files relate to Andrew's appointment as a trade envoy in 2001, a role he left in 2011. His decade in the role was not without controversy.

His association with Jeffrey Epstein - who was sentenced to 18 months in prison in 2008 for soliciting a minor for prostitution - prompted criticism.

In March of that year, then-shadow justice minister Chris Bryant called for Andrew to lose his job, accusing him in the Commons of being "a very close friend of [Colonel Gaddafi's son] Saif Gaddafi".

The prince's relations with Timor Kulibayev, the son-in-law of the then-President of Kazakhstan, were also questioned. Kulibayev purchased the duke's Sunninghill Park home for £3m more than its £12m asking price in 2007.

And in October 2008, a US ambassador wrote in a secret cable that Andrew spoke "cockily" during an official engagement, leading a discussion that "verged on the rude".

The remarks by Tatiana Gfoeller, Washington's ambassador to Kyrgyzstan, were revealed by the website Wikileaks in 2010.

One of the documents released today is an internal telegram to staff of British Trade International - an organisation set up by the government to promote trade - confirming Andrew's appointment as "special representative".

Sent on 25 September 2001, it says: "We envisage a programme overseas based around two major regional visits per year. Other visits overseas will be considered, depending on budget and other constraints."

It advises of the need for "careful and sometimes strict media management", and says "initial proposals should contain the outline of a media strategy".

Mountbatten-Windsor's role would be to enhance the profile of the UK as a place for investment, to identify ways to improve support for exporters and investors, and he would "also play an important role in the aftercare for inward investors", the memo says.

More now from Trade Minister Chris Bryant, who says finding the documents released today "has not been a straightforward task".

"Twenty-five years ago, government departments were largely operating paper-based record keeping systems," he says in his statement.

"We have had to track down files that might potentially contain relevant information, recall these from storage and search files manually."

Another complication was "changes to the machinery of government," the trade minister says.

At the time of Mountbatten Windsor's appointment, the government's work to support trade and investment was led by British Trade International (BTI), which reported to a board chaired by a minister.

Bryant adds that documents released today show "officials and ministers had been considering expanding the role of the Duke of York for some time prior to the formal proposal" in February 2000.

"In January 2000, the then Foreign Secretary, Robin Cook, agreed that greater use should be made of the then Duke of York," he says.

Let's go back now to the newly released files.

One of the documents is a "Media Q&A for Duke of York role announcement", seemingly written by British Trade International about Mountbatten-Windsor's appointment as trade envoy.

The document has 24 questions and answers, preparing officials for media enquiries.

It says no one else was approached for the trade envoy role, and there was no time limit for his appointment, as "the role is open-ended".

Question eight is: "But he is not very experienced. Why not someone better placed?"

The suggested answer is: "The importance of the Duke's involvement lies in the high profile and commitment he is ableto give to this work as a Member of the Royal Family.

"It is a continuation of the Royal Family's involvement in trade and investment promotion following HRH The Duke of Kent's decision to relinquish his duties last April. The Duke will bring valuable support and visibility to British Trade International's activities at home and overseas."

If asked whether Andrew would be paid for the role, the answer was "no".

The BTI says it would pay for his travel and related expenses, including those of his supporting staff, but not for his personal protection officer - as they were funded by the Met Police.

Image source, UK Parliament

A written statement has been released by Trade Minister Chris Bryant to accompany the release of these documents.

In it, the minister says: "We have found no evidence that a formal due diligence or vetting process was undertaken.

"There is also no evidence that this was considered.

"This is understandable since this new appointment was a continuation of the Royal Family's involvement in trade and investment promotion work following the Duke of Kent's decision to relinquish his duties as Vice-Chairman of the Overseas Trade Board."

Bryant says the government is "co-operating fully" with Thames Valley Police's investigation into Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor.

The government agreed to publish the files on Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor's appointment after the Liberal Democrats used a mechanism known as a humble address back in February, after the former prince's arrest.

The government supported the motion, with Trade Minister Chris Bryant describing Andrew as "rude, arrogant and entitled" and saying the government would comply with the motion "as fast as we possibly can".

Eleven documents have now been published showing "how the role was created and Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor was appointed".

In a written statement to Parliament, Bryant says the government has found "no evidence" that a formal vetting process was carried out before Mountbatten-Windsor's appointment - more on that in our next post.

Earlier, we reported that Queen Elizabeth was "very keen" for Andrew to take a "prominent role in the promotion of national interests".

One of the other documents in today's files is a briefing for Prince Andrew (as he was) before an interview with the Times in 2001.

His team suggest Andrew emphasises a "mutual agreement" with "the Palace" about taking on the role.

Mountbatten-Windsor was also told to say there was "no hesitation in taking up the role," but given his "lack of direct business experience" he was keen to "ensure a full period of induction".

"Has been a steep learning curve for me," said a suggested answer. "But I relish the challenge. Hope to make a difference."

Image source, UK Government

Some of the pages published have heavy redactions.

Trade Minister Chris Bryant says this is to remove the "bare minimum" of personal information and information that would prejudice international relations.

He says the police have been consulted to avoid prejudicing their investigation into Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor.

And, he says, external, "we have also considered carefully the redaction of information relating to royal communications, mindful of the longstanding convention of confidentiality, which is codified under the Freedom of Information Act".

"I can assure the House that we have proceeded on the basis of the maximum transparency," he adds.

Image source, Department for Business and Trade

Mountbatten-Windsor had a preference for visiting "the more sophisticated countries", and "should not be offered golfing functions abroad", according to a letter released as part of the documents.

The letter is dated 25 January 2000 and is written by British diplomat Kathryn Colvin, though it is not clear who the letter was for.

It includes notes from a meeting she had held with Mountbatten-Windsor's then-private secretary Captain Neil Blair.

Colvin writes she was told that Prince Andrew was "particularly good on high-tech matters, trade, youth (including primary schools and outward bound projects), cultural events, with a preference for ballet rather than theatre, the Commonwealth and military and foreign affairs".

Captain Blair, according to the letter, said Mountbatten-Windsor "tended to prefer the more sophisticated countries, particularly those in the lead on technology", Colvin added. A line after that is redacted in the released document.

She continued: "Captain Blair particularly asked that The Duke of York should not be offered golfing functions abroad. This was a private activity and if he took his clubs with him he would not play in any public sense."

• In a statement, the government says it has redacted documents "to remove the bare minimum of personal information and information whose release would prejudice international relations".

The memo from David Wright, chief executive of British Trade International, was written on 25 February 2000.

He says he wrote it after a "wide ranging conversation with The Queen's Private Secretary on Wednesday 23 February".

"This covered a number of issues relating to the involvement of The Royal Family in trade promotion," he writes.

After saying the Queen's "wish" was for Andrew to take the role, he says Andrew could carry out "two or three specifically targeted trade promotion visits in overseas markets each year".

"We would want the Duke of York to be available to receive prominent trade visitors from overseas here in London and perhaps to act as host at meals or receptions as appropriate."

The Queen was "very keen" for Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor to take on a "prominent role in the promotion of national interests", then-chief executive of British Trade International Sir David Wright said in a memo to then-foreign secretary Robin Cook dated February 2000.

We'll have more on this line shortly.

Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor - then Prince Andrew - became the UK’s special representative for international trade and investment in 2001 but stepped down 10 years later.

Ministers agreed in February to publish documents related to his appointment to the post.

We are going through the documents now, and will bring you all the key lines on this page.