The Queen was “very keen” for Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor to take on a “prominent role in the promotion of national interests”, then-chief executive of British Trade International Sir David Wright said in a memo to then-foreign secretary Robin Cook dated February 2000.
Mr Mountbatten-Windsor was arrested in February on suspicion of misconduct in public office and released under investigation.
He has consistently denied any wrongdoing.
The British Government has published historic documents on the 2001 appointment of Mr Mountbatten-Windsor.
It has said it found no evidence that formal due diligence or security vetting was carried out at the time.
The Government agreed to release the documents after an opposition party used a rare parliamentary device to request the publication of files about Mr Mountbatten-Windsor’s appointment as a Government trade representative.
Mr Mountbatten-Windsor, the second son of the late Queen Elizabeth, served as the UK’s Special Representative for International Trade and Investment between 2001 and 2011.
This was a role that allowed him to travel the world, meeting senior business and Government figures in the unpaid role.
Queen Elizabeth II pictured with her son, Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor
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The late Queen specifically asked for Mr Mountbatten-Windsor to be appointed as UK trade envoy, the chief executive of British Trade International wrote in a letter.
Addressing the then-foreign and trade secretaries on February 25, 2000, Sir David Wright wrote: “The Queen’s wish is that the Duke of Kent should be succeeded in this role by the Duke of York.
“The Duke of Kent is to relinquish his responsibilities around April next year.
“That would fit well with the end of the Duke of York’s active naval career.
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Andrew was arrested in February on suspicion of misconduct in public office and subsequently released on investigation | REUTERS
“The Queen is very keen that the Duke of York should take on a prominent role in the promotion of national interests.
“No other member of The Royal Family would be available to succeed the Duke of Kent.
“The Duke of York’s adoption of his role would seem a natural fit.”
Queen Elizabeth II and Andrew pictured at Balmoral in 2019
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PASir David said this was relayed to him in a conversation with Queen Elizabeth’s private secretary, while also outlining the role they had jointly devised for Mr Mountbatten-Windsor.
British Trade International is the former name of the Government organisation responsible for promoting exports and overseas investment, later known as UK Trade & Investment.
At the time of writing, the late Queen’s cousin, Prince Edward, Duke of Kent, often represented British trade interests abroad in various related roles.