Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor charged taxpayers for massages and excessive travel expenses while serving as the UK's trade envoy, according to reports. Former senior civil servants said a culture of deference within Whitehall allowed the claims to be approved despite their objections.
One retired civil servant who worked in the trade department in the early 2000s told the BBC he was overruled after refusing a claim for massage services following a Middle East visit. He said he regretted missing a chance to check Andrew's behaviour.
A second source who oversaw finances confirmed similar expense claims for Andrew's trips, including excessive flights, unreasonable numbers of hotel rooms, and charges for his entourage. The costs were reportedly hidden across different budgets, making them hard to trace.
A third source described Andrew as an ineffective envoy who harmed local relations by going off-script and being rude. The Department for Business and Trade did not deny the claims, referring instead to a police statement.
