Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor's time as the UK's trade envoy was marred by controversy, with reports alleging that he charged taxpayers for personal massages and excessive travel expenses. Former civil servants expressed shock at the claims, citing a culture of deference towards the former prince within Whitehall that allowed such practices to go unchecked. One source, who worked in the trade department in the early 2000s, recounted how he refused to cover the cost of 'massage services' requested by Andrew, but was overruled by senior colleagues. Another source, who oversaw finances, confirmed the authenticity of the allegations, highlighting excessive flight costs, unreasonable hotel room bookings, and charges for Andrew's entourage. The costs were allegedly funneled into different budgets, making them difficult to trace, and there was little certainty over who was in Andrew's entourage. The culture of deference meant that checks on his spending were more of a rubber stamp than a thorough scrutiny. While the Department for Business and Trade did not deny the claims, they referred to a statement by Thames Valley police that they were assessing all relevant information. Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor was released under investigation after being held by police for over 10 hours, and his lawyers have declined to comment. The controversy raises questions about the effectiveness of Andrew's role as a trade envoy and the potential harm his visits could have caused to local relations. A third source told the BBC that Andrew could be an ineffective trade envoy, whose visits could do more to harm local relations than to enhance them. The former civil servant said: '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 incident has sparked debate and invites discussion on the ethics of public figures and the importance of accountability in public office.
