A batch of documents relating to Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor’s time as trade envoy have been released.

Queen Elizabeth was ‘very keen’ for Andrew to take on trade envoy role (Image: Getty)

The late Queen Elizabeth was “very keen” for her son Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor to take on a “prominent role in the promotion of national interests”, and specifically asked for him to be appointed as UK trade envoy, new documents reveal. Then-chief executive of British Trade International, Sir David Wright, said in a memo that the monarch saw her son as being “a natural fit” for the job.

The document is among the tranche of files relating to Andrew’s 2001 appointment as trade envoy that the Government has released today. The former Duke of York faces accusations of sharing sensitive information with paedophile Jeffrey Epstein while acting as a special representative for trade and investment between 2001 and 2011.

In a memo to the then-foreign and trade secretaries on 25 February 2000, Sir David Wright wrote: “The Queen’s wish is that the Duke of Kent should be succeeded in this role by the Duke of York. The Duke of Kent is to relinquish his responsibilities around April next year. That would fit well with the end of the Duke of York’s active naval career.

“The Queen is very keen that the Duke of York should take on 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. The Duke of York’s adoption of his role would seem a natural fit.”

Sir David was recalling a conversation he had with the Queen’s Private Secretary the day before. At the time of writing, the late Queen’s cousin, Prince Edward, Duke of Kent, often represented British trade interests abroad in various related roles.

The files are being released after the Liberal Democrats requested their publication in February, following the former prince’s arrest on suspicion of misconduct in public office.

Lib Dem leader Sir Ed Davey asked the Government to release all papers related to the Government’s creation of the role of special representative for trade and investment and Mountbatten-Windsor’s appointment to it in 2001. It is supposed to include advice regarding Andrew’s suitability for the appointment, due diligence and vetting by Tony Blair’s Government.

Andrew’s role as trade envoy gave him access to senior Government and business contacts worldwide. He stepped down from the role in 2011 when he came under fire for his links to Epstein.

He received no salary for travelling around the world and for promoting Britain’s business interests at home, but he faced criticism for the thousands of pounds spent each year on his expenses and travel.

The 31 pages of documents released today include press briefing notes for Andrew ahead of an interview with the Times, where he was given prompts to questions, including: “Why do you think people outside Britain will listen to you?”

And one Q&A document sent to aid the media’s reporting when the former duke’s role was announced, answers the question: “But he is not very experienced. Why not someone better placed?”

Andrew was arrested in February over allegations of misconduct in public office (Image: Getty)

The answer given reads: “The importance of the Duke’s involvement lies in the high profile and commitment he is able to 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.”

The same briefing document, titled ‘General Q&A on the Duke’s role’, also denied allegations that Andrew had office expenses of £100,000.

In response, the Palace writes: “There has never been a demand for any payment for office expenses. It was clear from the start that only expenses incurred on BTI business will be covered in HRH’s role. This is by mutual agreement with Buckingham Palace.”

These documents are often released when the Palace makes announcements to help provide guidance to reporting.

A ministerial statement on the publication of the files is also expected on Thursday afternoon.

The Department of Business and Trade was leading the work to trawl through records spanning “multiple legacy bodies and formats”, trade minister Sir Chris Bryant said in March.

“We have established a process with the Cabinet Office and Thames Valley Police to ensure that any material released does not prejudice the police investigation,” he said at the time.