Prince Andrew Accused of Leaking Treasury Briefing to Banker Friend
Newly disclosed emails have revealed that Prince Andrew, while serving as Britain's trade envoy in 2010, forwarded a confidential Treasury briefing to a banker friend, Jonathan Rowland. The briefing detailed the financial crisis gripping Iceland at the time, and the prince urged Rowland to read it "before you make your next move," according to the correspondence seen by The Telegraph.
Details of the Leaked Briefing
In February 2010, Prince Andrew tasked his deputy private secretary, Amanda Thirsk, to request an official update from the Treasury on the diplomatic row between the UK and Iceland over British deposits lost in the 2008 banking crisis. The request came after the prince met with Iceland's prime minister at Davos. A week later, a Treasury official provided a note, which Thirsk forwarded to Andrew. Within two hours, the prince sent it to Jonathan Rowland, whose bank, Banque Havilland, had acquired assets from a failed Icelandic lender the previous year.
In his email to Rowland, Andrew wrote: "I pass this on to you for comment and a suggestion or solution? The essence is that Amanda is getting signals that we should allow the democratic process [to] happen before you make your move. Interested in your opinion? A." This exchange occurred days after Icelandic authorities raided the offices of Kaupthing Bank, part of which had been acquired by Banque Havilland following its collapse.
Ongoing Police Probe and Royal Response
The former Duke of York is already facing a police investigation by Thames Valley Police over allegations he leaked confidential data to Jeffrey Epstein during his tenure as the UK's special representative for trade. Detectives are currently assessing whether to open a formal investigation into these new revelations. Earlier this week, Buckingham Palace issued an unprecedented statement, expressing King Charles's "profound concern" over the mounting allegations against his brother and stating the palace is "ready to support" any police inquiry.
Deep Ties to the Rowland Family
Prince Andrew's connections to the Rowland family span years and involve significant financial dealings. David Rowland, the Guernsey-based Tory donor and father of Jonathan, once gave Sarah Ferguson £40,000 to help clear her debts. Leaked documents from 2022 suggested he also paid off a £1.5 million bank loan for the Duke in 2017. Following this payment, David Rowland invited Andrew to the launch of a joint venture in Abu Dhabi involving one of his banks and a sovereign wealth fund.
Further documents from the Epstein files underscore the close relationship between Andrew and the Rowlands. An email from September 2009 referenced Sarah Ferguson using a "Rowland bank loan" to pay for a first-class flight to Nepal. Additionally, when Andrew visited Jeffrey Epstein in November 2010, he forwarded Whitehall reports from his trips to Hong Kong, Singapore, Vietnam, and China within minutes of receiving them from his Buckingham Palace office. On another occasion, he provided Epstein with a briefing on investment opportunities in Afghanistan's Helmand province.
Implications and Reactions
This latest evidence highlights Prince Andrew's apparent willingness to share official documents with wealthy associates, raising serious questions about his conduct while in public office. Banque Havilland was connected to a major investigation by Icelandic authorities at the time of the leaked briefing, adding to the scrutiny. Both Jonathan Rowland and Banque Havilland have been approached for comment but have not yet responded. As Thames Valley Police continues its assessment, the royal family faces mounting pressure over these allegations, which threaten to further tarnish the monarchy's reputation.
