Mandelson Championed Prince Andrew as Trade Envoy Despite Royal Concerns
Former Prince Andrew was enthusiastically championed for the role of UK trade envoy by Peter Mandelson, it has been revealed. Lord Mandelson, who is now under police investigation himself, dismissed concerns about Andrew's suitability from critics, including his older brother Charles.
Royal Warnings Overridden
Charles, then the Prince of Wales, was worried his errant sibling would 'use the post to cultivate friendships with the wealthy, chase women and play golf', according to Private Eye. However, in 2001, when Andrew was put forward to replace the Duke of Kent, Mandelson said the then Duke of York was 'well qualified' for the position.
'As a former trade secretary I know of the great importance of trade missions', he reportedly said. 'With a royal association they can achieve a reach into overseas foreign markets which is of immense value to the economy of the country.'
He added: 'In that context the Duke of York will have a very important role for which he is well qualified. This activity on behalf of the nation should not be confused with the commercial activities for personal gain which is associated with certain other members of the Royal family.'
Queen's Backing and Controversial Appointment
Despite Charles's concerns, the late Queen Elizabeth II is said to have overruled him with Mandelson's backing, and Andrew was appointed as special representative for international trade and investment in 2001. Dozens of MPs pushed at the time—unsuccessfully—for a register of Royal interests to monitor potentially compromising business dealings by the Royal Family.
The Guardian reported that Andrew responded to his new position by saying: 'I am thoroughly looking forward to it. It will be a complete contrast to my role in the navy, where I am necessarily working behind closed doors. Now I will have to deal with the press.'
Connections to Epstein and Maxwell
The Telegraph reported that Mandelson and Andrew knew each other by then, having worked on an NSPCC campaign together. They were also both connected to Jeffrey Epstein through mutual friends Ghislaine Maxwell and Evelyn de Rothschild, the City financier, and his wife Lynn.
Ghislaine Maxwell was personally connected to both Mandelson and Andrew. Mandelson had served as a consultant for her father Robert Maxwell, the media magnate and former owner of the Daily Mirror. She had been photographed with Andrew at a 'hookers and pimps' Halloween party in New York before he was given the trade envoy position.
In 2000, one year before Andrew's appointment, the Telegraph reported that Andrew and Mandelson both attended the wedding of the de Rothschilds. Lynn Rothschild is named by Maxwell as being the first to introduce Andrew to Epstein in the early 2000s. The Rothschild's summer house in Martha's Vineyard is also reported as the meeting place for Epstein and Mandelson's first introduction in 2001.
Downfall and Arrests
In 2011, ten years later, Andrew was forced to give up his trade role over his connections to Epstein. On Thursday, Andrew became the first senior royal in modern history to be arrested when he was held on suspicion of misconduct in public office. He was in custody for around 11 hours before being released under investigation by Thames Valley Police.
The force said searches at a property in Norfolk—Andrew's home on the Sandringham Estate—have concluded, while searches of a Berkshire address, his former residence Royal Lodge on the Windsor estate, will continue. Andrew was detained on his 66th birthday over allegations he shared sensitive information with Epstein while serving as the UK's trade envoy.
Thames Valley Police previously said it was reviewing allegations after emails released by the US Department of Justice appeared to show Andrew sharing reports of official visits to Hong Kong, Vietnam, and Singapore with Epstein. One email from the Epstein files, dated November 2010, appeared to be forwarded by Andrew five minutes after being sent by his then-special adviser Amir Patel. Another, on Christmas Eve 2010, appeared to show Andrew sent Epstein a confidential brief on investment opportunities in the reconstruction of Helmand province in Afghanistan.
Andrew has denied any wrongdoing over his Epstein links but has not directly responded to the latest allegations.
Mandelson's Firm Collapses
On the same day as Andrew's arrest, it was announced that Lord Mandelson's lobbying firm, Global Counsel, is set to go into administration. The firm, co-founded by Lord Mandelson, previously worked with clients including Palantir, GSK, Vodafone, TikTok, and the Premier League. It announced earlier this month that it had cut ties with Lord Mandelson following the release of the Epstein files in America.
Staff at the company were told in a meeting at 1pm on Thursday that it is being placed into administration due to the links between Lord Mandelson and Epstein. A Global Counsel source said it was a terrible situation for staff, who had 'nothing to do with it', adding: 'It's the end of Mandelson's legacy.' Another source told the Mail: 'It's a good firm of good people that have been swept away by the millstone of revelations that were nothing to do with the firm.'
In a statement, the firm—which has around 130 employees in Berlin, Brussels, London, Singapore, Washington DC, and Doha—confirmed it had appointed administrators. It said the 'continuing maelstrom of political and media attention surrounding Peter Mandelson has made it challenging to continue with the business in its current form'.
Police Investigations and Fallout
The Metropolitan Police has launched an investigation following allegations that Lord Mandelson sent market-sensitive information to Epstein while he was business secretary in Gordon Brown's government during the financial crisis. Scotland Yard said its probe into Lord Mandelson over alleged misconduct in public office would 'take some time' after officers finished searching his homes in London and Wiltshire earlier this month.
Lord Mandelson has denied the Epstein files show he broke any laws or acted for personal gain. He has repeatedly said he regrets his friendship with Epstein. Lord Mandelson has quit the House of Lords, resigned from the Labour Party, and been kicked out of the Privy Council in the wake of the Epstein files being released. He is still allowed to use his 'Lord' title until legislation is passed to formally remove it—something Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer has vowed to do.
