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Confidential trade documents forwarded to Epstein
Prince Andrew sent a sensitive UK government briefing on Afghan investment opportunities to convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein in December 2010, the BBC has revealed. The document, prepared for Andrew during his tenure as a UK trade envoy, outlined high-value commercial prospects in Helmand province, including gold and uranium deposits.
Nature of the shared documents
The briefing, labeled confidential by Andrew in an accompanying email, was compiled by UK officials for the then-Duke of York. It detailed mineral resources such as marble, gold, iridium, uranium, and thorium, as well as potential oil and gas reserves in Helmand. The document was produced by the Provincial Reconstruction Team during a period of UK military and political engagement in Afghanistan.
In addition to the Afghan brief, emails from the Epstein files suggest Andrew also forwarded official reports from his trade envoy visits to Singapore, Hong Kong, and Vietnam. A subsequent message indicates he sent a second batch of files labeled "Overseas bids," likely containing compressed data.
Reactions and legal scrutiny
Former UK Business Secretary Sir Vince Cable condemned the sharing of the documents as "appalling behaviour." Thames Valley Police are currently assessing whether to launch an investigation into the apparent disclosure of sensitive trade materials. Andrew has not responded to requests for comment but has previously denied any wrongdoing in his associations with Epstein.
"I have twice in the past asked to see the file on Andrew as trade envoy and, strangely, it is empty."
Sir Vince Cable
Sir Vince, who played a key role in ending Andrew's trade envoy role, called for greater transparency regarding the prince's activities in the position. He revealed that Andrew had once asked him to find a role during a meeting at Buckingham Palace but was rebuffed.
Diplomatic and ethical concerns
Trade envoys are bound by confidentiality rules regarding sensitive commercial or political information. While a diplomatic source suggested that envoys might share information with potential investors to support UK business interests, a former senior trade official emphasized that such documents were "absolutely not for sending outside government."
Andrew's note to Epstein indicated he planned to share the Afghan brief with other contacts, including in Abu Dhabi. The former official noted that while some trade envoy reports were routine, others contained commercially valuable information that should not have been disclosed.
Broader context and ongoing scrutiny
The revelation adds to the controversy surrounding Andrew's ties to Epstein, following the release of US court documents that included images of the prince in compromising situations. He faces increasing pressure to testify in the US about his relationship with Epstein and recently relocated from Windsor to the Sandringham Estate in Norfolk.
A Buckingham Palace spokesperson stated on Monday that King Charles is prepared to assist police in their assessment of allegations against his brother.
