Prince Andrew Accused of Claiming Massage Expenses During UK Trade Envoy Role

Allegations have emerged that Prince Andrew charged taxpayers for massage services and excessive travel expenses during his tenure as the United Kingdom’s trade representative, according to claims made by retired civil servants who say they raised concerns at the time.

The claims relate to Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor’s role as the UK’s Special Representative for International Trade and Investment, a position he held from 2001 to 2011. While the role was unpaid, it included taxpayer-funded overseas travel and logistical support from government officials.

One former civil servant who worked within the UK’s trade department in the early 2000s said he objected to a request to reimburse what was described as “massage services” during an official trip to the Middle East. The former official claimed he refused to approve the expense, believing it inappropriate, but was overruled by senior staff members.

Another retired senior Whitehall official, who said he had oversight of financial matters in the department, supported the allegation, stating he had seen similar expense claims linked to Andrew’s visits abroad. The official said he had “no doubt” about the authenticity of the documentation at the time but acknowledged that formal records from more than two decades ago are difficult to retrieve.

There is no suggestion that the alleged expense claims were unlawful. The Department for Business and Trade has not publicly disputed the account of the massage-related expense but has referred to an ongoing police investigation involving Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor. He has not been convicted of any offence and has previously denied wrongdoing in separate matters concerning his associations.

Both former officials spoke on condition of anonymity, citing concerns about professional repercussions and the sensitivity of the allegations. They said internal objections were raised but were ultimately dismissed, attributing the lack of scrutiny to what they described as a culture of deference toward senior royals at the time.

The claims add to renewed scrutiny of Andrew’s past activities following wider controversies that led to his withdrawal from public duties. His association with convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein ended his role as trade envoy in 2011, though he has consistently denied any wrongdoing linked to that relationship.

According to one former official, Andrew’s travel arrangements often involved what he considered excessive costs, including large entourages, multiple hotel bookings and premium flights. The official claimed financial oversight was limited and that expenses were distributed across different departmental budgets, making comprehensive tracking difficult.

A separate former trade official said preparations for Andrew’s overseas visits could take months of diplomatic planning, only for the outcomes to be undermined by what he described as unpredictable behavior. The official alleged that Andrew occasionally deviated from agreed messaging during trade engagements, which in some instances complicated diplomatic efforts.

In recent years, biographer Andrew Lownie has sought greater transparency regarding Andrew’s time as trade envoy, filing multiple Freedom of Information requests for official records. Several requests were rejected on administrative grounds, with departments citing the volume of archived material required for review.

Parliamentary scrutiny may now follow. Members of the Business and Trade Committee are expected to discuss whether to open an inquiry into the oversight and accountability mechanisms that governed trade representatives during that period.

The Department for Business and Trade has noted that Andrew’s former role differs from today’s trade envoy system, which is largely filled by appointed lawmakers and operates under a formalized code of conduct not in place during his tenure.

The allegations remain unproven, and no court has made findings related to the specific expense claims. Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor has not publicly responded to the latest accusations.