By Molly Claire Goddard
8:05am PST, Jan 23, 2026
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According to royal author
Andrew Lownie, Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor was a flight risk during his ten years as England's special representative for international trade and investment. "Although, as a senior royal, Andrew was a high-ranking asset, he was also a liability who had to be managed, self-centered and showing little interest in the problems of others," he wrote in his "Lownie Report" Substack via
Daily Express.
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Andrew Lownie claimed Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor's priorities weren't always U.K. trade. "While some diplomats said he [Mountbatten-Windsor] was good in receptions, talking to everyone and on top of his brief — many others had an entirely different experience — saying that Andrew only did what he wanted to do, often bypassing carefully arranged VIP reception lines to talk to attractive women, ignoring the program or leaving early," he wrote.
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The people who worked with Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor were perplexed by his entitlement. "The duke didn't relate well to less senior contacts or staff," Andrew Lownie said. "Many speak of how Andrew's staff often requested that attractive women be invited to events. Stories are told of escorts, masquerading as professional women, being provided so that he could pick up."
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Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor served as Britain's trade envoy from 2001 until 2010. The job entailed the former Duke of York traveling around the world to enhance the U.K.'s global business interests.
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King Charles III stripped Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor of his titles and evicted him from Royal Lodge over his ties to Jeffrey Epstein. The 65-year-old also lost his position as Knight of the Order of the Garter and Knight Grand Cross of the Royal Victorian Order. Queen Elizabeth II previously stripped his military and charity patronages in 2022.
