The government is not expected to block the Lib Dems attempt to force the public release of files related to Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor’s appointment as a trade envoy on Tuesday.
The party will table a humble address in the Commons – the same arcane mechanism the Tories used to press for the release of files on Lord Mandelson’s appointment as ambassador – in a bid to compel the government to disclose information about Mr Mountbatten-Windsor, who served as a trade envoy between 2001 and 2011.
Conservative leader Kemi Badenoch, who also indicated her support for the motion, said she expects it to pass without the need for a vote.
Meanwhile, New Zealand and Australia has said it would support the British government if it proposes to remove Mr Mountbatten-Windsor from the line of succession.
The former prince was arrested last Thursday on suspicion of misconduct in public office after being accused of sharing sensitive information with paedophile financier Jeffrey Epstein while serving as the UK’s trade envoy. He was later released under investigation.
Mr Mountbatten-Windsor has vehemently denied any wrongdoing in his links with Epstein, and has rejected allegations that he made any personal gain from his trade envoy role.
Mountbatten-Windsor a ‘man on a constant self-aggrandising and self-enriching hustle’, minister saysSpeaking in the Commons, trade minister Sir Chris Bryant said Epstein’s abuse had been aided by many who “turned a blind eye” out of “greed, familiarity, or deference”.
“To my mind they too were just as complicit, and I welcome the reckoning that is coming to them now,” he said.
He added colleagues in parliament had told him their own stories of Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor, which he said all displayed the same pattern of “a man on a constant self-aggrandising and self-enriching hustle.
“A rude, arrogant and entitled man who could not distinguish between the public interest that he said he served and his own private interest,” he continued.
Nicole Wootton-Cane24 February 2026 13:15
Ed Davey: ‘Andrew shamed our country and the royal family’Ed Davey said outdated traditions meant MPs could not criticise Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor, and said the former prince “shamed our country and the royal family.”
He added: “For too long members of parliament were barred from even raising criticisms of him, let alone properly scrutinising his role as envoy.
“Because of the outdated tradition, the mention of any member of the royal family in this house must, in the words of the previous speaker, be ‘very rare, very sparing, and very respectful’.”
Harriette Bouche24 February 2026 13:04
Davey criticises parliamentary rules preventing criticism of AndrewThe Independent’s Political Reporter Athena Stavrou reports:
Ed Davey has stood in the Commons to begin the debate on the Liberal Democrat’s humble address motion.
Davey is seeking to use a parliamentary debate on Tuesday to compel ministers to release documents about Mr Mountbatten-Windsor’s appointment as trade envoy.
The Lib Dem leader said Andrew Mountbatten Windsor had “shamed our country and the royal family”, but added “for too long members of parliament were barred from criticising him”.
Harriette Boucher24 February 2026 12:57
Government ‘in favour of transparency’ and confirm support of Lib Dems motionKeir Starmer’s spokesman confirmed he would not oppose a move in Parliament to compel ministers to release documents about Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor’s appointment as trade envoy
The official told reporters: “We are in favour of the principle of transparency.
“We can’t publish material that would jeopardise a police investigation, as you know, so that is the balancing exercise.”
Harriette Boucher24 February 2026 12:34
Inside the police operation to arrest Andrew Mountbatten-WindsorCraig Prescott, a royal expert at Royal Holloway, University of London, compared it in severity to the crisis sparked by Edward VIII’s abdication to marry American divorcee Wallis Simpson, warning “it may not be over yet”.
The former prince faces an investigation into the offence of misconduct in public office, over his ties to paedophile financier Jeffrey Epstein. The former prince, who became the first senior royal in modern history to be arrested, is accused of sharing sensitive information with Epstein while serving as the UK’s trade envoy.
Thames Valley Police arrested him at Sandringham Estate on his 66th birthday on Thursday.
The Independent’s Bryony Gooch reports:
Harriette Boucher24 February 2026 12:22
Almost 60 UK royals have been arrested – and Charles I was not the last since AndrewHarriette Boucher24 February 2026 12:12
Badenoch indicates support for Liberal Democrat motion to released Andrew filesThe Independent’s Political Correspondent Athena Stavrou reports:
Kemi Badenoch has indicated her support for the upcoming Liberal Democrat motion to force the government to release information around Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor’s role as trade envoy.
The Lib Dems will table a humble address in the Commons – the same arcane mechanism the Tories used to press for the release of files on Lord Mandelson’s appointment as ambassador – in a bid to compel the government to disclose information about Andrew, who served as a trade envoy between 2001 and 2011.
Asked if she would support the motion, the Conservative Party leader said: “About supporting the Liberal Democrats request for documents to be released, I don’t think there’s actually going to be a vote. I don’t think anyone disagrees with them.”
Harriette Boucher24 February 2026 12:05
How the former Prince Andrew could be removed from Britain’s line of successionIt’s been 90 years since a British royal was removed from the line of succession. That might happen again now that Britain’s government says it will consider introducing legal changes to formally remove Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor from the list of royals in line to the throne.
Despite being stripped of his status as prince in October over his close links with the late convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein, the former Prince Andrew, King Charles III’s younger brother, remains eighth in line to become monarch.
Read more:
Shaheena Uddin24 February 2026 12:00
Kemi Badenoch expects Lib Dems motion to pass without need for voteKemi Badenoch has said she expects the Lib Dems motion in the Commons today to pass without the need for a vote.
The party is using a parliamentary debate on Tuesday to try and force the release of papers relating to Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor’s appointment as trade envoy.
The government is not expected to oppose the calls.
The Tory leader said she expects all MPs to agree on this, the Guardian reported.
Harriette Boucher24 February 2026 11:44
Inside Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor’s role as trade envoyAndrew Mountbatten-Windsor was appointed as the UK’s special representative for international trade and investment in 2001 after retiring from the Royal Navy.
He was handed the role by Sir Tony Blair’s New Labour government and received the backing of Conservatives and Labour figures, despite controversy around the appointment and his suitability for the job.
The then-prince stepped down from the role in 2011.
Reports from the time said that Mr Mountbatten-Windsor’s time as trade envoy was plagued with controversy, with calls for his resignations in March 2011 over his relationship with Jeffrey Epstein, who had been jailed for sex offences.
Mr Mountbatten-Windsor did not receive a salary, but did have expenses paid for.
It was alleged this week that he used taxpayers’ money for massages and excessive travel costs during his time as the UK’s trade envoy, according to claims made by retired civil servants.
His expenses-paid delegations also earned him the nickname ‘Air miles Andy’.
When asked in 2011 what Mr Mountbatten-Windsor contributed to the role, former prime minister David Cameron’s spokesman said that many UK businesses supported the work he had done over recent years.
“We saw trade as an important part of our Growth Strategy and the Prime Minister had been clear that the whole of Government needed to support British business in promoting exports to other countries. We thought that Prince Andrew had made a valuable contribution in this area.”
Harriette Boucher24 February 2026 11:34
