The confidential papers, published by the British government on Thursday, reveal that Buckingham Palace actively backed Andrew’s elevation to a high-profile trade promotion role that he held from 2001 until 2011.

“The Queen is very keen that the Duke of York should take on a prominent role in the promotion of national interests,” the head of Britain’s trade body wrote in one of the documents released.

Another government memo circulated to British trade officials overseas warned that Andrew’s “high public profile” would require “careful and sometimes strict media management.”

The disclosures emerged months after British lawmakers accused Andrew of prioritizing his relationship with late financier Jeffrey Epstein over Britain’s national interests, intensifying scrutiny of the monarchy’s handling of the scandal.

Trade Minister Chris Bryant said in a statement to parliament that officials found “no evidence that a formal due diligence or vetting process was undertaken” before Andrew assumed the envoy position.

Bryant said the appointment had been viewed at the time as a continuation of the royal family’s long-standing involvement in promoting British trade and investment abroad following the Duke of Kent’s withdrawal from related duties.

The minister also confirmed the government was cooperating with an investigation by Thames Valley Police into Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor and possible misconduct in public office.

Andrew was stripped of his royal titles last year by King Charles III as the monarchy sought to contain fallout linked to the Epstein scandal and wider questions surrounding the conduct of senior royals.

The former duke resigned as Britain’s special trade representative in 2011 after criticism over his associations with controversial figures in Libya and Azerbaijan.

Fresh scrutiny intensified after U.S. authorities released extensive court and investigative documents tied to Epstein, detailing his relationships with influential political, business and social figures across multiple countries.

The revelations have renewed debate in Britain over the influence of elite networks within public institutions, the monarchy and political circles.