Overview
- Government papers released on Thursday show Queen Elizabeth II personally pushed for Andrew to become the UK trade envoy, according to internal British Trade International correspondence.
- Trade Minister Chris Bryant said the released files contain no clear record of a formal security vetting before Andrew took the unpaid post that carried taxpayer-funded travel and accommodation costs.
- Thames Valley Police announced on Friday that their inquiry has been widened to include possible sexual offences and misuse of public office and that investigators have searched Royal Lodge and Sandringham and are analysing seized material.
- Police have contacted the lawyer of an alleged 2010 victim and are publicly urging other witnesses to come forward while seeking access to original records in the US Department of Justice’s Epstein archive.
- The revelations have broadened political fallout after the February arrest of Andrew and the temporary detention of former minister Peter Mandelson and they raise practical hurdles for investigators because key Epstein files are held in the United States.