Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor scandal: Former UK PM reveals reasons Andrew was forced to step down as trade envoy

Fresh information reveals the real reason why Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor was forced to step down from his role as ambassador for British trade. And it’s not just because of Epstein.

In a new book titled Elizabeth II: In Private, In Public – The Inside Story, royal author Robert Hardman claims that the former UK Prime Minister David Cameron had to gently push the disgraced former prince to stand down as trade envoy due to his close ties with convicted paedophile Jeffrey Epstein.

“I think I was responsible for gently saying to Her Majesty that he had to stand down as a trade envoy,” Lord Cameron says in the book. “It was all pretty much fixed.

“But I was just to reference it for the official log. The Queen was worried about him but she could see the logic.”

However, Lord Cameron said it wasn’t just the former prince’s relationship with Epstein that was causing problems.

“It had been getting embarrassing,” he said. “Andrew kept turning up to things and making terrible remarks.

“I’d seen it myself at Davos where he was going to his receptions and was just a bit crass. He had his way of doing things and it wasn’t what you wanted.

“He was very good with all the tyrants but he started being opinionated saying we were too squeamish about dealing with these people. His speeches would always just have three or four inappropriate things.”

It’s not yet clear what “inappropriate things” Mr Mountbatten-Windsor was saying exactly, but he’s been no stranger to controversy over the past few months.

On February 19, Mr Mountbatten-Windsor was arrested on the suspicion of misconduct in public office. The arrest coincided with his 66th birthday and shocked the world.

He worked as trade envoy from 2001 until 2011, during which time he was also in communication with Epstein. As the US Department of Justice continued to release files in 2026, fresh accusations that Mr Mountbatten-Windsor had shared sensitive information with Epstein arose.

The former prince was held for questioning for 11 hours before he was released. Though he was not charged, investigations continue, and he is being held under bail-like conditions on account of his brother King Charles, not the police.

The exile process has been in the works for some time, but came to a head in October, when it was announced that he and his ex-wife Sarah Ferguson would be kicked out of the luxurious Royal Lodge.

Mr Mountbatten-Windsor remained in the 30-room Windsor estate until he was booted in early February and cast out to Sandringham.

He spent some time on Wood Farm, before last week making his final move to the more modest Marsh Farm.

Ms Ferguson has remained in hiding since the Epstein files, in which she features frequently, first began to be released on December 19 last year. Commentators understand her whereabouts is being kept from key figures in the royal family.