The former trade secretary said Andrew was ‘well qualified’ for the role

Lord Mandelson helped secure Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor’s job as the UK’s trade envoy against King Charles’s wishes.

The monarch, who was then the Prince of Wales, worried whether his younger brother could take on the position.

However, Queen Elizabeth II overruled Charles with Lord Mandelson’s backing, who said Andrew was “well qualified” for the role.

The former Duke of York served as the UK’s trade envoy from 2001 to 2011, after succeeding the Duke of Kent.

Lord Mandelson helped secure Andrew’s role as the UK’s trade envoy.

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Lord Mandelson, 72, served as trade secretary in 1998 and was familiar with the former prince, having worked on an NSPCC campaign together, a report in The Telegraph claims.

Both men were friends with convicted sex trafficker Ghislaine Maxwell, who is currently serving a jail sentence for her crimes alongside Jeffrey Epstein, who killed himself in 2019.

In 2000, both Andrew and Lord Mandelson attended the wedding of the Rothschilds. There is no suggestion of wrongdoing by Lynn Rothschild.

Lynn Rothschild introduced the former Duke of York to Epstein in the early 2000s, according to Maxwell.

Lord Mandelson said Andrew was ‘well qualified’ for the position

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The convicted sex trafficker added that Lord Mandelson first met the paedophile in 2001 at the Rothschilds’s summer house in Martha’s Vineyard, the Massachusetts island.

When questions were raised in 2001 about Andrew’s upcoming position, Lord Mandelson backed him, saying: “As a former trade secretary, I know of the great importance of trade missions.

“With a royal association, they can achieve a reach into overseas foreign markets, which is of immense value to the economy of the country.

“In that context the Duke of York will have a very important role for which he is well qualified. This activity on behalf of the nation should not be confused with the commercial activities for personal gain which is associated with certain other members of the Royal family.”

Lord Mandelson served as trade secretary in 1998

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Several MPs tried to establish a register of royal interests to monitor any potentially conflicting business activities involving the Royal family.

Andrew had to give up his trade role following his ties to Epstein in 2011.

The former duke was stripped of his titles on October 30, 2025 and forced to leave Royal Lodge.

The ex-prince was arrested yesterday morning on suspicion of misconduct in public office.

Andrew was seen departing Aylsham Police Station after being arrested on suspicion of misconduct in public office

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Andrew was pictured reclining in the back seat of a car after a 12-hour day of questioning in police custody.

Thames Valley Police told GB News: “Thames Valley Police is able to provide an update in relation to an investigation into the offence of misconduct in public office.

“On Thursday (19/2) we arrested a man in his sixties from Norfolk on suspicion of misconduct in public office.

“The arrested man has now been released under investigation. We can also confirm that our searches in Norfolk have now concluded.”

Andrew has denied any wrongdoing over his Epstein links, but has not directly responded to the latest allegations.