Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor “commissioned a glowing report into role that boosted taxpayer expenses”, it has been revealed. The 66-year-old served as the UK’s special representative for international trade and investment between 2001 and 2011.
The role was unpaid, however, with his travel and related expenses and staffing costs, it was funded by the government. According to the i Paper, Andrew commissioned an “independent strategic review” of his role in early 2008 – which found that he was “highly valuable UK asset” and led to an increase in taxpayer funding.
The Epstein files, which were released earlier this year, included details of the review from when Andrew’s office was expanded in June 2009.
Andrew’s private secretary sent Philip Yea, who is the former chief executive of 3i Group plc, a hiring pack, which inluded background information relating to the creation of his new role, which he held until 2014.
It said: “The review indicated that HRH was highly valued by UK businesses and that he should continue to develop the role as a unique and highly valuable UK asset.
“The government agreed and provided strong endorsement with increased funding to support the duke’s activities.”
The review took place after Andrew earned negative headlines for his expenses, such as earning himself the nickname of Air Miles Andy for his penchant for expensive travel.
According to previously published accounts of the Royal Household, Andrew’s taxpayer-funded travel expenses came to more than £350,000 for five trips that he made during 2010 and 2011.
At the time of the review, The Daily Telegraph quoted that a royal source had said: “There is not a word of criticism about the prince in the PWC report and it is hugely supportive of his work – though it is not always easy to quantify how much of the deal-clinching is down to him.”
After the review, the government signed off a bigger budget for his expenses while carrying out his trade work following the review, with the understood to have included payment for accommodation, travel and other related expenses for both Andrew and his staff.