A journalist who accompanied Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor on a trade mission was left stunned by two comments he made during the trip. Catherine Mayer, writing in her book Divide and Rule, described her experience as the only reporter ever allowed on one of his overseas assignments.
Revealing Comments
Mayer recounted how Andrew, then the Duke of York, served as a special envoy for trade and investment for the United Kingdom. She noted that his role was "devised for him" by the government and Buckingham Palace. During the trip, two moments stood out as particularly revealing of his disconnect from everyday realities.
In Beijing, she heard Andrew reassure students at Beijing University that Western imports would not dilute Chinese culture. "After all, Britons had consumed American culture for years without any appreciable impact," he said.
Another comment was directed at Mayer herself. She recalled: "On another occasion, he demanded to know why I was barefoot. He had apparently never noticed that his convoys set off as soon as he was seated, leaving anyone travelling at the back of the column to fling themselves at moving vehicles. I had lost a shoe in the process. He told me, for decorum, to wear the remaining one."
Cost and Regret
Mayer also highlighted the financial cost of Andrew's role, writing: "Any benefits to the UK came with a hefty price tag: intensive preparations, transport and accommodation for Andrew and his entourage, and four royal protection officers for the duration."
During a quiet moment in China, Andrew confided to Mayer that he wished he could have had a different job. "One afternoon in China, he confided to me that he wished he could have been a plumber," she added.
Life After Royal Duties
Mayer's recollections come months after significant changes in Andrew's life. In November 2025, he was stripped of his royal titles and lost the right to use the His Royal Highness style. He relocated from Royal Lodge on the Windsor estate to Marsh Farm on the Sandringham estate in Norfolk, where he has been living since April, just miles from the village of Wolferton.
