Prince Andrew And The Locked Files (6/19/26)

British government files concerning Prince Andrew and his conduct as the United Kingdom’s special representative for trade and investment will remain sealed until 2065, according to a Foreign Office response to a Freedom of Information request submitted by royal biographer Andrew Lownie. The unusually long restriction means the records may not become public during Andrew’s lifetime, shielding details of his taxpayer-funded overseas travel, official dealings and relationships from meaningful contemporary scrutiny. Andrew served as Britain’s trade envoy from 2001 until 2011, when he resigned after renewed attention focused on his continued association with Jeffrey Epstein following Epstein’s conviction for sex offenses.


Lownie condemned what he described as a “culture of secrecy” surrounding royal correspondence, arguing that Andrew’s public role and controversial associations create a compelling public interest in disclosure. He specifically pointed to unanswered questions about Andrew’s trade missions, his relationship with Epstein, his contacts with figures including Saif Gaddafi and convicted gun smuggler Tarek Kaituni, and the continuing public cost of his security. While government records are generally transferred to the National Archives and opened after 20 years, royal-related material receives special protections, allowing potentially important information about Andrew’s official activities to remain hidden for more than four decades.



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