New Emails Reveal Prince Andrew Shared Treasury Briefing with Banker Friend
Fresh evidence has emerged showing that Prince Andrew, the former Duke of York, passed a confidential Treasury briefing to a banker friend in 2010, according to newly disclosed emails. This development adds to the mounting allegations against the royal, who is already under police scrutiny for similar claims involving Jeffrey Epstein.
Confidential Information Forwarded During Financial Crisis
At the time, Andrew served as Britain's trade envoy and requested an official update from the Treasury regarding the financial crisis in Iceland. The UK and Iceland were embroiled in a diplomatic dispute over British deposits lost during the 2008 banking collapse. When the Treasury provided the briefing, Andrew forwarded it to his financier friend, Jonathan Rowland, with a note suggesting he read it "before you make your move."
Details of the Email Exchange
The emails reveal that Andrew instructed his deputy private secretary, Amanda Thirsk, to contact Michael Ellam, the Treasury's director general of international finance, on February 8, 2010. Thirsk's message stated that Andrew had met with Iceland's prime minister at Davos and sought an update on the deposit scheme issue. A week later, a Treasury official responded with a note, which Thirsk forwarded to Andrew. He then passed it to Rowland, whose bank, Banque Havilland, had acquired assets from a failed Icelandic lender the previous year.
In the email, Andrew wrote to Rowland: "I pass this on to you for comment and a suggestion or solution? Amanda is getting signals that we should allow the democratic process happen before you make your move. Interested in your opinion?" This correspondence highlights Andrew's apparent willingness to share sensitive government information with private individuals.
Ongoing Police Investigation and Royal Response
Thames Valley Police detectives are currently assessing whether to launch a formal investigation into claims that Andrew leaked confidential data to Jeffrey Epstein during his tenure as the UK's special trade representative. Buckingham Palace has issued a statement expressing King Charles's "profound concern" over the allegations and affirming that the palace stands "ready to support" any police inquiry.
Connections to the Rowland Family and Broader Implications
Andrew's ties to the Rowland family date back years, with reports in 2022 suggesting that David Rowland, Jonathan's father and founder of Banque Havilland, paid off a £1.5 million bank loan for the duke in 2017. Banque Havilland was linked to a major investigation by Icelandic authorities, as the email was sent shortly after Iceland's special prosecutor raided the offices of Kaupthing Bank, part of which had been acquired by Banque Havilland. Many British citizens were affected by the loss of access to cash in this crisis.
This incident is not isolated, as it follows other controversies involving royal associates. For instance, Prince William's Earthshot Prize has been reported to the Charity Commission due to a founder's links to Epstein, and Sultan Ahmed bin Sulayem was recently ousted as chairman of DP World over emails shared with the convicted paedophile.
The new emails underscore ongoing concerns about the handling of official documents and the potential misuse of privileged information within high-profile circles, raising questions about accountability and transparency in both royal and governmental affairs.
