Prince Andrew was given the nickname 'His Buffoon Highness' by Foreign Office officials during his time as a trade envoy, according to former diplomats. The Duke of York served as a trade envoy for the British Government between 2001 and 2011.
Former deputy ambassador to Bahrain, Simon Wilson, told the i paper that Andrew was 'rude and arrogant' and that the nickname was used among diplomats. He described a series of demands made by the prince, including water at room temperature with no ice, and a 6ft ironing board that once got stuck in a revolving door.
Other officials said Andrew would stay in five-star hotels funded by taxpayers, travel with a large entourage, and had a list of foods he would and wouldn't eat, including prunes shipped in for breakfast and a refusal to eat garlic. One former official described him as 'a pain to look after' and 'very demanding'.
The revelations come as Labour MPs demand the release of documents relating to Andrew's trade trips, following his arrest on suspicion of misconduct in public office. The US Department of Justice also released documents as part of the Epstein files, bringing renewed attention to Andrew's friendship with convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein.
