Minister for Trade (Sir ): I am updating the House on
the Government's work to comply with the Humble Address relating
to Andrew Mountbatten‑Windsor, approved on 24 February 2026, and
on the steps being taken to identify and prepare the relevant
material.
The Department for Business and Trade is leading the Government's
response. We are committed to complying fully with Parliament's
request while avoiding the publication of information that could
prejudice the live Thames Valley Police investigation into Mr.
Mountbatten‑Windsor's conduct in public office. A dedicated team
has been established to coordinate this work across the
Department and Whitehall.
From 1976 to 2001 the Duke of Kent served as Vice-Chairman of the
British Overseas Trade Board and later British Trade
International. In this role he was part of the senior leadership
of the UK's official trade‑promotion body and conducted more than
60 overseas visits to promote trade. Initial searches confirm
that it was agreed that Mr. Mountbatten‑Windsor, on retiring from
the Navy, would continue to support the late Queen in her duties
and take on a specific role created for him reflecting the Royal
Family's long-standing involvement in trade promotion. The role
was unpaid, but British Trade International paid for his travel
and related expenses. Mr. Mountbatten-Windsor did not take over
the Duke of Kent's Board role.
We have begun searching historic Departmental records and have
commissioned parallel searches in other Departments, in
particular the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office and
the Cabinet Office. We have established a process with the
Cabinet Office and Thames Valley Police to ensure that any
material released does not prejudice the police investigation.
Mr. Mountbatten‑Windsor took up his role as Special
Representative for Trade and Investment in October 2001. At that
time, Government work on exports and investment was led by
British Trade International, reporting jointly to the Department
for Trade and Industry and the Foreign and Commonwealth Office.
The records from this period are largely paper‑based. Subsequent
machinery‑of‑government changes — including the formation of UK
Trade & Investment in 2003, its merger into the Department
for International Trade in 2016, and the creation of the
Department for Business and Trade in 2023 — mean that relevant
records span multiple legacy bodies and formats. We are working
through these complexities in order to comply with the Humble
Address.
I understand and share colleagues' desire for relevant
information to be provided to Parliament as quickly as possible.
I will continue to keep the House updated on progress.
