Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor, the former UK trade envoy, has been accused of charging taxpayers for massage services and excessive travel costs, according to whistleblowing retired civil servants.
The claims, reported by the BBC, allege that Andrew made the requests while working as the UK's trade envoy between 2001 and 2011. One former civil servant, who worked in the UK's trade department, recalled refusing to pay for a massage claim but was overruled by senior staff.
According to the former civil servant, he thought it was wrong to pay for the massage, but it was paid anyway. The Department for Business and Trade has not challenged the claim, but has referred to the ongoing police investigation into Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor.
Police Investigation
Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor was arrested on suspicion of misconduct in public office on Thursday, 19 February, and taken to a Norfolk police station for questioning. The former prince has always rejected any wrongdoing in his associations with paedophile financier Jeffrey Epstein and denied any personal gain from his role as trade envoy.
The BBC approached Andrew for a response to these claims, but he has not commented. The role of trade envoy was unpaid, but Andrew had the support of civil servants and taxpayer funding for his overseas trips.
Witness Accounts
Another source, a former senior Whitehall official, backs up the claim, stating that he has "absolutely no doubt" about its authenticity. Both former civil servants wanted to remain anonymous but have separately spoken to the BBC about their claims.
The BBC has seen documentary evidence of the whistleblowers' closeness to this area at the time, but has not seen proof of the claim about charging for massages from over 20 years ago. The former civil servants had independently stepped forward, initially contacting author Andrew Lownie, who is updating his biography of Andrew, Entitled.
Government Response
The Department for Business and Trade has pointed to the ongoing police investigation into Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor. A spokesperson for the department has also noted that Andrew was the "UK Special Representative for International Trade and Investment" and it was a different role from today's trade envoys.
Envoys are now usually MPs and peers, appointed by ministers, and with a formalised set of rules of conduct, which did not apply at the time of Andrew's time as a trade representative. The Liberal Democrats are preparing to force a debate on Andrew in the House of Commons, while the former Conservative minister Tom Tugendhat has called for an inquiry into the former prince led by a panel of MPs, peers, and judges.
