Former senior civil servants have disclosed that Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor, while serving as the UK's special representative for international trade and investment, billed taxpayers for massage services and lavish travel expenses. According to BBC reports, a culture of deference within Whitehall allowed these claims to proceed unchecked, raising serious questions about oversight and accountability.
Culture of Deference in Whitehall
One retired civil servant, who worked in the trade department during the early 2000s, expressed frustration over Andrew's expense claims. He recounted an incident following a Middle East visit where Andrew requested reimbursement for "massage services." Despite refusing the claim, the civil servant was overruled by senior colleagues, leading to its approval. "I thought it was wrong ... I'd said we mustn't pay it, but we ended up paying it anyway," he told the BBC, lamenting a missed opportunity to curb such behavior.
Excessive Spending and Lack of Scrutiny
The reports detail additional claims for excessive flights, unreasonable hotel room bookings, and charges for Andrew's entourage. A second source, responsible for overseeing finances in this area, confirmed seeing similar expense submissions and had "absolutely no doubt" about their authenticity. Sources described the approval process as more of a "rubber stamp" than proper scrutiny, with costs often buried in various budgets, making them difficult to trace.
"I couldn't believe it ... it was like it wasn't real money, they weren't spending any of their own money," another source remarked, highlighting the perceived disregard for public funds. The BBC noted that while it has not seen proof of the massage claims, it verified that the whistleblowers worked in relevant positions during Andrew's tenure.
Ineffectiveness as Trade Envoy
A third source criticized Andrew's performance, labeling him an "ineffective" trade envoy whose visits sometimes harmed local relations rather than enhancing them. "Andrew was seen as a liability. He went off-script, he thought he was an expert, when he wasn't. He thought he was funny, when he was being rude to people," the former civil servant stated, underscoring concerns about his diplomatic conduct.
Official Responses and Legal Context
The Department for Business and Trade did not deny the allegations, instead referencing a statement from Thames Valley police issued after Andrew's recent arrest. The police noted they are "assessing all relevant information" but have no further comment. Andrew was released under investigation after being held for over 10 hours, with no suggestion that the reported behavior constitutes unlawful conduct. His lawyers have declined to comment on the matter.
These revelations come amid ongoing scrutiny of Andrew's role and spending, shedding light on broader issues of transparency and accountability in government operations. The reports emphasize the need for stricter financial controls to prevent similar incidents in the future.
