Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor allegedly received a boost to his taxpayer-funded expenses as trade envoy after a review he commissioned found he was a 'highly valuable UK asset'. The disgraced royal, who was arrested in February on suspicion of misconduct in public office, charged his travel and a string of expenses, including massages and staffing costs, to the Government while serving as special representative for international trade and investment from 2001 to 2011.
Andrew's running costs grew so bulky he was given the nickname 'Air Miles Andy', racking up more than £750,000 a year in international travel expenses alone. The former Duke of York is now alleged to have used a gushing report into his stint as trade envoy to loosen the Government's purse strings further, according to The i Paper.
PwC Review Details
In early 2008, Andrew tasked Big Four accounting firm PricewaterhouseCoopers (PwC) with providing an 'independent strategic review' of his performance. Details of the report were unveiled in the Epstein files via a hiring pack sent to Philip Yea, former chief executive of 3i Group plc, in June 2009 while he was being appointed as a senior business adviser. The contract claimed Andrew had developed his role 'significantly' and provided the findings of the review. The summary read: '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.' It recommended that Andrew spend more time focusing on 'emerging markets and territories' and suggested an expanded private office, hence Mr Yea's appointment.
Negative Headlines and Expenses
The review was penned amid a slew of negative headlines criticising the duke for his extensive travel expenses, which later included more than £350,000 for five trips during 2010-11, according to published accounts of the Royal Household. While the nature of his role inevitably involved lengthy trips, some questioned why these journeys often included pit stops at ski slopes and top golf courses. Andrew's own report appeared to be an attempt to improve his image as trade envoy, with a royal source telling the Telegraph that there was 'not a word of criticism about the prince in the PwC report and it is hugely supportive of his work'.
In turn, Andrew's expenses experienced another uptick, with the Government signing off on another boost to his accommodation, travel and general funding. The duke also developed a penchant for 'massage services', the cost of which were also covered by the Government. It was reported first by the Daily Mail in 2009 that Andrew was introduced to the 'pleasures of professional massage' by paedophile financier Jeffrey Epstein.
Expense Reductions and Increases
In answer to negative publicity, the PwC report highlighted areas where the prince's expenses could be reduced. The National Audit Office had criticised the duke's regular use of private helicopters and RAF planes, including taking one to play golf at St Andrews. Consequently, the cost of his international travel dropped from £760,000 to £435,000. However, while he cut down on private jets, expenses surrounding Andrew's role as trade envoy increased overall following the 2008 report.
The duke started publishing annual reports on his own website in 2009, with the first edition including some findings of the PwC review. HR documents sent at the time of Mr Yea's appointment also provided insight into the benefits of the unpaid job, including a range of expenses and the chance to have lunch at Buckingham Palace on days spent working with Andrew.
Arrest and Ongoing Investigation
Andrew's sensational arrest came more than three months ago, but detectives are thought to be struggling to build a compelling enough case to bring charges. Thames Valley Police alleges that Andrew leaked secrets to Epstein during his decade as the UK's trade envoy, and announced its probe has broadened. The force is understood to have made contact with the Metropolitan Police to review its records relating to Andrew's accuser Virginia Giuffre, and is also keen to speak to the former prince's protection officers.
Giuffre, who died by suicide in April 2025, was paid £12 million by Andrew in 2022 after claiming she was sexually assaulted by him three times when she was 17. Andrew has always denied wrongdoing, but there are allegations that he paid one of his protection officers to dig up dirt on Giuffre after she publicised her allegations in 2011. The Met denies that the request was carried out.
Giuffre was interviewed by Met officers in 2015 after she complained that she was sex trafficked by Epstein and Ghislaine Maxwell. But an investigation was never launched because, the Met said, there was no allegation of criminal conduct against any UK-based nationals. Thames Valley officers reportedly now want to review the files themselves and speak to Met protection officers who stayed with Andrew at properties owned by Epstein. Police have seized evidence in a raid of Andrew's former home at Royal Lodge, Windsor, and his new property in Norfolk.
Senior officers have spoken to the Crown Prosecution Service for 'early investigative advice' ahead of a potential prosecution. They are also liaising with the US Department of Justice to formally request evidence from the Epstein files. Alongside the allegations from the files, they are assessing separate claims that Epstein sent a woman to the UK for sex with Andrew in 2010. Detectives have spoken to a lawyer for the alleged second victim, but officers are yet to carry out interviews because she has not made a formal complaint to police.
Assistant Chief Constable Oliver Wright said the force had assembled a dedicated team of 'most experienced specialist investigators', including detectives experienced in investigating serious sexual attacks and financial experts. He confirmed they had spoken to a number of witnesses, but hopes others will come forward to shed light on Andrew's relationship with the paedophile.
One of the key issues is whether the former prince can be considered a public officer under the terms of the offence. Police will have to interview various officials and seek disclosure from the Government of any documents Andrew signed regarding confidentiality in his role, which he held for ten years until 2011. CPS guidance says: 'There is no simple definition of a public officer, and each case must be assessed individually, taking into account the nature of the role, the duties carried out and the level of public trust involved.'
Emails released in the Epstein dump suggest the former duke shared reports of official visits to Hong Kong, Vietnam and Singapore with the financier. Andrew was the UK's Special Representative for Trade and Investment in Asia in 2010 and 2011. He is accused of sharing confidential reports and investment opportunities with Epstein after the financier was released from prison on child sex offences in 2009. One email, in November 2010, was forwarded by Andrew just five minutes after being sent by his then-special adviser, Amit Patel. On Christmas Eve 2010, Andrew allegedly looped Epstein in on a confidential briefing about investment opportunities in the reconstruction of Helmand in Afghanistan.
Detectives are now speaking to officials in the Cabinet Office and Buckingham Palace, which has previously released a statement confirming staff stand 'ready to support' police. Royal aides say the Palace cannot comment while there is an active police inquiry for fear of prejudicing any investigation. The Daily Mail has contacted Mountbatten-Windsor and Buckingham Palace for comment. The Government has also been approached for comment.
