As trade envoy, Prince Andrew promoted Britain and exploited his access

"LONDON - Reaching for a role beyond his birthright as the monarchy's spare, Prince Andrew took on one of the British government's most outward-facing posts: trade envoy. From 2001 to 2011, Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor, as he is now known, hopscotched the globe not as a royal but as an official representative for trade and investment, courting presidents, ministers and chief executives and cooking up deals that at times made his family cringe."

"British police have searched Mountbatten-Windsor's homes for evidence of misconduct in public office, and politicians are weighing their own inquiry. Liam Byrne, chair of the Business and Trade Committee, said members of Parliament were taking allegations related to Andrew's conduct "acutely seriously" and could begin examining his work as trade envoy as soon as this Tuesday. Byrne added that MPs were "not in the market for letting anything slip through the cracks.""

"Mountbatten-Windsor's tenure as trade envoy began after his career in the Royal Navy ended. His appointment in 2001 was backed by the Tony Blair government, with vocal support from Peter Mandelson, then the secretary of state for trade and industry. Mandelson, who was fired as British ambassador to the United States and recently resigned from the Labour Party over his own ties to Epstein, pushed for the prince to get the position over the objections of members of the royal family other senior advisers."

Prince Andrew served as a British trade envoy from 2001 to 2011, representing trade and investment interests worldwide and courting presidents, ministers and chief executives. He was arrested on allegations of misconduct related to that role amid longstanding scrutiny over his ties to Jeffrey Epstein and accusations that he had sexual encounters with an Epstein trafficking victim. British police have searched his homes for evidence of misconduct in public office. Members of Parliament are preparing inquiries and signaled they will examine his work as trade envoy. His appointment was backed by Peter Mandelson despite objections from some royal family members and advisers.

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