Overview
- A No 10 file on royal visits from 2004–05 was first shared with journalists under embargo then delivered to the National Archives with Andrew-related pages withdrawn or redacted, which the Cabinet Office called an administrative mistake managed under the Public Records Act.
- The minutes detailed Andrew’s travel as a UK trade envoy, listing planned trips to China, Russia, south-east Asia, Spain and Gulf states, and proposed shifting trip costs to the Royal Travel Office at an estimated additional £90,000, with a separate query over the FA funding a Euro 2004 visit.
- Reporters including the Press Association viewed the minutes before they were pulled and described the material as unremarkable.
- Republic’s Graham Smith, author Andrew Lownie and others accused officials or the Palace of suppressing the documents and urged their release, while Labour MP Rachael Maskell asked the government to explain the withholding.
- The withdrawal coincided with the US Department of Justice publishing Epstein-era files that reference Andrew and follows his recent loss of remaining royal honours, intensifying debate over royal secrecy and the absolute exemption applied to royal records.