Thames Valley Police, the force investigating Prince Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor on suspicion of misconduct in public office, has formally requested a dossier of leaked documents from The Mail on Sunday. The police made the official request last week, asking the newspaper to provide a cache of files obtained during an investigation into how Andrew promoted the business interests of property tycoon David Rowland and his son Jonathan while serving as the UK's trade envoy.
Bombshell Emails Reveal Private Business Plugging
Explosive emails uncovered by the investigation reveal that while on taxpayer-funded trade missions intended to promote British business abroad, Andrew was quietly promoting a private Luxembourg-based bank for ultra-wealthy clients. This bank, Banque Havilland, is owned by multimillionaire David Rowland and his family. The documents also appear to show that Andrew passed on a confidential Treasury briefing about the Icelandic financial crisis directly to the Rowlands. Furthermore, his key aide Amanda Thirsk allegedly provided them with a Foreign Office diplomatic cable meant exclusively for government officials.
Police Action Follows Front Page Exclusive
A senior police officer requested the documents after The Mail on Sunday's front page exclusive on February 22 revealed that an email from the dossier showed King Charles was warned by a whistleblower in 2019 about Andrew's business associations with the Rowlands. The warning email stated clearly: 'HRH the Duke of York's actions suggest that his Royal Highness considers his relationship with David Rowland more important than that of his family.'
The Mail on Sunday has informed Thames Valley Police that it is willing to assist the ongoing investigation and prepared to disclose relevant documents in its possession. Former Government minister Norman Baker, an expert in royal finances, commented: 'I welcome the contact that Thames Valley Police has made with The Mail on Sunday. It seems the police, for the first time, are actually taking allegations against members of the Royal Family seriously. This is also raising embarrassing questions for the King and others in the Royal Family about how much they knew and when.'
Historic Arrest and Property Searches
Andrew was arrested by Thames Valley Police officers at his new home on the Sandringham estate on February 19 – his 66th birthday. He was released under investigation eleven hours after his arrest, photographed slumped in the backseat of a car as he was driven away from Aylsham police station in Norfolk. This marked the first time in nearly 400 years that a senior member of the Royal Family has been detained by police.
Officers conducted searches at both Wood Farm at Sandringham and Royal Lodge, the 30-room mansion in Windsor Great Park where Andrew lived for more than two decades. The offence of misconduct in public office carries a maximum sentence of life imprisonment, though Andrew has not been formally charged at this stage.
Longstanding Business Relationships
Andrew and publicity-shy David Rowland have maintained a friendship since at least 2005. That year, the then prince unveiled a bronze statue of the financier at Havilland Hall, the Rowlands' sprawling estate in Guernsey. In 2009, Andrew officially launched the Rowlands' bank, Banque Havilland, in Luxembourg.
David Rowland once gave Sarah Ferguson £40,000 to help clear her debts and in 2017 paid off a £1.5 million loan for Andrew. Over several years, Andrew repeatedly alerted the Rowlands to business opportunities arising from his official work. The two men even secretly went into business together – until 2019 they jointly owned a company called Inverness Asset Management, registered in the British Virgin Islands. Banque Havilland had its licence withdrawn in 2024 by the European Central Bank, a decision it is currently appealing.
Official Trips Used for Private Business
During his time as trade envoy, Andrew took his private banker friends on official trips that appear to have served their private business interests. In December 2009, he flew to Azerbaijan's capital Baku, where he was received by President Ilham Aliyev. While the official meeting discussed increasing economic cooperation between the UK and Azerbaijan, behind the scenes Andrew appears to have used the trip to help the Rowlands build their private businesses.
In an email to Azerbaijani entrepreneur Nasib Piriyev, Jonathan Rowland wrote that he 'recently visited Baku with HRH Prince Andrew at the same time Tony Blair visited Baku.' He also emailed Tony Blair's offices, saying: 'It was a great pleasure to meet you and Mr Blair with HRH last week in Baku.'
Diverting Government Opportunities
A particularly revealing email shows how Andrew diverted what appeared to be an offer of lucrative UK investment opportunities from the Saudi government straight to David Rowland. On May 27, 2008, Neil Hollinshead – who was later sentenced to seven years for pretending to represent the Saudi Royal Family – sent an offer that was treated seriously by Andrew's private secretary Alastair Watson.
Just 58 minutes after receiving the email, Andrew forwarded it to David Rowland, writing: 'This came into my office and would seem to be much better placed with you. Especially after our recent trip.' During his tenure as trade envoy, Andrew made multiple trips to Saudi Arabia with David Rowland and his son Jonathan – coinciding with their plans to launch a Middle Eastern banking operation.
Thames Valley Police declined to comment on the ongoing investigation this weekend as they continue to examine the documents provided by The Mail on Sunday.
