Former Business Secretary Demands Probe into Prince Andrew's Trade Envoy Tenure
Sir Vince Cable, who served as Business Secretary between 2010 and 2015, has called for a comprehensive investigation into Prince Andrew's time as a UK trade envoy, citing potentially corrupt activities revealed in recently released documents.
Documents Reveal Confidential Information Sharing
Documents released by the United States Department of Justice appear to show the former prince, Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor, sharing confidential reports from his official trade envoy role with convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein. The emails, part of the so-called Epstein files released earlier this month, reportedly contain details of official visits to Hong Kong, Vietnam, and Singapore that were improperly shared with the disgraced financier.
Sir Vince Cable, whose tenure as Business Secretary overlapped with Andrew's envoy role from 2001 to 2011, described the alleged behavior as "totally unacceptable" and called for immediate action.
Calls for Criminal and Government Investigations
"We need a police or DPP check on whether criminal corruption took place and a government investigation into how this was allowed to happen," Cable told the BBC, emphasizing the seriousness of the allegations. The former Liberal Democrat leader stressed that both criminal and procedural aspects must be thoroughly examined to determine accountability.
Thames Valley Police confirmed they have held discussions with Crown Prosecution Service specialists regarding allegations that Andrew shared confidential reports. While unable to provide specific timescales, the force stated they are "making progress as quickly as possible" in assessing whether to open a criminal investigation.
Police Assessment and Parliamentary Pressure
Assistant Chief Constable Oliver Wright revealed that Thames Valley Police is leading the assessment of allegations relating to misconduct in public office, specifically focusing on documents within the US Department of Justice's Epstein files. The investigation centers on whether Andrew breached official protocols during his decade-long service as trade envoy.
Labour MP Sarah Owen, who chairs the Commons Women and Equalities Committee, added to the pressure this week by stating that Andrew must answer to both police and Parliament regarding the serious allegations. Her comments reflect growing parliamentary concern over the implications of the documents.
Royal Family Impact and Palace Response
The scandal continues to overshadow much of the royal family's work in recent weeks, despite King Charles III's attempts to distance the monarchy from the controversy. Buckingham Palace has expressed the King's "profound concern" over the misconduct allegations against his brother and stated it will "stand ready to support" police if approached for cooperation.
This development comes after the King previously banished Andrew from royal duties and removed his titles in an effort to draw a line under the Epstein scandal. However, the latest document revelations have reignited public and political scrutiny of Andrew's official conduct during his trade envoy years.
The allegations raise significant questions about protocol breaches and information security within government-appointed roles, with potential implications for how future royal engagements in official capacities are managed and monitored.
