Ask Onix
Whistleblowers reveal Prince Andrew's expenses during trade envoy role
Former UK civil servants have accused Prince Andrew of charging taxpayers for massages and excessive travel costs while serving as the country's trade envoy from 2001 to 2011. The claims, made to the BBC, highlight a lack of oversight and deference toward the royal during his tenure.
Massage claims and financial irregularities
One retired civil servant, who worked in the UK's trade department in the early 2000s, recounted refusing to approve a payment for "massage services" requested by Andrew following a Middle East trip. Despite his objections, senior officials overruled him, authorizing the expense. "I thought it was wrong... I'd said we mustn't pay it, but we ended up paying it anyway," he told the BBC.
A second former senior Whitehall official, responsible for financial oversight, confirmed similar expenses during Andrew's travels. He expressed disbelief at the scale of spending, describing it as "like it wasn't real money." The official alleged that costs were dispersed across multiple budgets, making them difficult to track, and that records of Andrew's entourage were poorly maintained.
Deference and lack of scrutiny
The former officials attributed the unchecked spending to a culture of deference within the civil service. One described how approvals for Andrew's trips were given a "rubber stamp" rather than proper scrutiny. "There seemed to be little control on spending or proper record-keeping," he said.
Both whistleblowers, who spoke anonymously, initially contacted biographer Andrew Lownie, who is updating his book Entitled, before sharing their accounts with the BBC. While the BBC has not seen direct evidence of the massage claims, it has verified the whistleblowers' roles during Andrew's tenure.
Previous allegations and broader concerns
The claims align with earlier reports about Andrew's fondness for massages. In a US court statement, Jeffrey Epstein's former employee Juan Alessi alleged that Andrew received "daily massages" during visits to Epstein's Florida home. Emails linked to Epstein also referenced payments for massages under the name "Andrew," though it is unclear if this refers to the prince.
Lownie's biography includes an account of Andrew requesting an ambassador to arrange a massage during an overseas trip. The author has criticized the lack of transparency surrounding Andrew's trade envoy role, with Freedom of Information requests rejected due to the volume of records involved-one year alone would require reviewing 1,927 digital files.
Impact on trade efforts and calls for accountability
A third former senior civil servant, who worked for UK Trade and Investment (UKTI), described Andrew as a "liability" during trade missions. "He went off script, he thought he was an expert when he wasn't," the official said, adding that his behavior could be "rude and offensive." Preparations for his visits often took months, only to result in negative outcomes, with some overseas teams resorting to excuses to avoid hosting him.
The Department for Business and Trade has not disputed the massage claims but noted that Andrew's role as "UK Special Representative for International Trade and Investment" differed from modern trade envoys, who are now typically MPs or peers subject to formal conduct rules.
Political and legal fallout
MPs on the Business and Trade Committee are set to discuss launching an inquiry into trade envoys' accountability later this week. Meanwhile, the Liberal Democrats plan to force a debate on Andrew in the House of Commons, and former Conservative minister Tom Tugendhat has called for an independent inquiry led by MPs, peers, and judges.
On Thursday, Andrew was arrested by Thames Valley Police on suspicion of misconduct in public office but has not been charged. A spokesperson for the Department for Business and Trade referenced the ongoing police investigation.
"Supplies have stabilized, but conservation remains essential," the water agency said.
Catalan Water Agency
Andrew has consistently denied any wrongdoing in his associations with Epstein and any personal gain from his trade envoy role. His office has not responded to the BBC's request for comment on the latest allegations.
