Government documents detailing Prince Andrew’s correspondence and dealings as trade ambassador will be kept secret until 2065
Government documents detailing Prince Andrew’s correspondence and dealings as trade ambassador will be kept secret until 2065
- The revelation came to light in response to a Freedom of Information request
Government documents on Prince Andrew will remain secret until 2065, it was revealed today.
The Duke of York’s correspondence with ministers, including details of dealings as a trade ambassador, will not be released in his lifetime unless he turns 105.
The time frame for Andrew, 63, came to light in response to a Freedom of Information (FOI) request to the State Department.
Under normal rules, documents transferred by government departments to the National Archives in Kew are kept secret for 20 years. But a special dispensation is granted to the royal family.
Documents relating to Andrew’s brother, the Duke of Edinburgh, Prince and Princess Michael of Kent, and Princess Alexandra also have the same time difference – 105 years from their birth – for release.
Government documents on Prince Andrew will remain secret until 2065, it was revealed today
But critics argue it’s a disservice to the public to keep Andrew’s files hidden for so long.
Author Andrew Lownie said: “Many questions remain about his role as a trade envoy, a public appointment paid for by the taxpayer, and his associations with figures like Jeffrey Epstein.
“The release delays create a vacuum for speculation and fantasizing. Their release would help restore confidence in the institutions, not least in the monarchy.’