Palace denies new claims Andrew exploited role as a UK trade envoy
BUCKINGHAM Palace has insisted that the Duke of York was promoting British interests and “not the interests of individuals” amid claims he exploited his role as UK trade envoy.
An investigation by the Mail on Sunday claims that Andrew had conflicts of interest between multi-millionaire property developer David Rowland, who the newspaper refers to as his “close friend”, and his role as the UK’s special representative for international trade and investment.
But a royal spokesman said the duke’s 10-year stint in the role was solely to promote British interests.
He said: “The Duke of York was the UK’s Special Representative for International Trade and Investment between 2001 and July 2011 and in that time the aim, and that of his office, was to promote Britain and British interests overseas not the interests of individuals.”
Former Foreign Affairs Committee member Chris Bryant, who was in office when the duke held the role, told the newspaper that his former committee or the Public Accounts Committee should launch an inquiry.
It comes after Andrew stepped down from public duties in the wake of his disastrous Newsnight interview about his association with disgraced financier Jeffrey Epstein, who took his own life in jail earlier this year while facing sex trafficking charges. During the interview, Andrew said his relationship with Epstein gave him the opportunity to meet people and help prepare for the official role. The duke stepped aside as trade envoy in 2011 after it became public he had stayed with Epstein following the convicted sex offender’s release from jail.
Virginia Giuffre, one of 16 women who say they were abused by Epstein, claims she was forced into a sexual encounter with Andrew — an allegation he strenuously denies.
In another blow for the duke, Ms Giuffre’s first UK television interview is to be broadcast tonight.
A Panorama programme entitled The Prince And The Epstein
Scandal will see Ms Giuffre tell her story and reveal new details about her time with Epstein, the BBC said.
Ms Giuffre claims the duke slept with her on three separate occasions, twice while she was underage.
The palace branded the allegations “false and without any foundation”, stating “any suggestion of impropriety with underage minors” by the duke was “categorically untrue”.
The PA news agency was unable to contact Mr Rowland. The Mail on Sunday said he declined to comment for legal reasons.