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Ex-minister urges probe of Andrew's UK trade envoy role

Feb 16, 2026

A file photo of Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor — Emails appear to show Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor shared confidential reports with Jeffrey Epstein. -EPA

Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor's time as a trade envoy should be investigated for possible corruption, a former UK business secretary says.

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Documents released by the US Department of Justice appear to show the former prince shared confidential reports from his role as the UK's trade envoy with sex offender Jeffrey Epstein.

Sir Vince Cable, whose time as business secretary between 2010 and 2015 overlapped with Andrew's envoy role, said the activity was "totally unacceptable".

"We need a police or DPP (director of public prosecutions) check on whether criminal corruption took place and a government investigation into how this was allowed to happen," Sir Vince told the BBC.

Emails released as part of the so-called Epstein files earlier in February appear to show the former duke - who served as trade envoy between 2001 and 2011 - sharing reports of official visits to Hong Kong, Vietnam and Singapore with the late financier, who was convicted of soliciting prostitution from under-18s in 2008.

Epstein was found dead by suicide in a New York jail cell where he was being held ⁠on sex-trafficking charges in 2019.

Thames Valley Police said they have held discussions with specialists from the Crown Prosecution Service about allegations Andrew shared confidential reports.

"While we cannot provide timescales over when a decision as to whether a criminal investigation will be opened, we can assure you that Thames Valley Police is making progress as quickly as possible," the force said on Wednesday.

Assistant Chief Constable Oliver Wright said they were leading the assessment of allegations relating to misconduct in public office, which specifically related to documents within the US Department of Justice's Epstein files.

Labour MP Sarah Owen, who heads the Women and Equalities Committee in Britain's House of Commons, this week said Andrew must answer to the police and parliament over the allegations.

King Charles has made clear his "profound concern" over the allegations of misconduct against Andrew, with Buckingham Palace saying it will "stand ready to support" the police if approached.

Much of the work of the royal family in recent weeks has been overshadowed by the Epstein scandal, despite the King's attempts to draw a line under the matter when he banished Andrew and removed his titles.