Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor secured an increase in taxpayer-funded expenses following a self-commissioned review that praised his role as a trade envoy for the United Kingdom. The report, conducted by PricewaterhouseCoopers (PwC) in 2008 and obtained as part of the Epstein Files, described his work as “unique and highly valuable” and noted that the former prince was “highly valued by UK businesses.”

The strategic review, initiated by Mountbatten-Windsor amid growing criticism of his extensive travel expenses, recommended continued development of his trade role. Subsequently, the government approved an additional £5,000 in funding to support his activities, raising his expenses from just over £149,000 in 2008-09 to approximately £154,000 the following year. The increase came alongside the establishment of a senior business adviser role, which was filled in 2009 by Philip Yea, former CEO of 3i Group plc. Yea was provided with a briefing pack outlining his responsibilities in relation to the duke’s duties, a position he held until 2014.

The review and added funding followed scrutiny over Mountbatten-Windsor’s travel patterns, which attracted the nickname "Air Miles Andy" due to frequent, expense-paid trips abroad. Critics highlighted concerns about the coincidence of official business travel visits to luxury resorts, ski destinations, and golf courses. Despite these concerns, a royal source emphasized the positive tone of the PwC report, stating there was “not a word of criticism” and describing the review as “hugely supportive” of his contributions, though acknowledging the difficulty in quantifying his impact on deal-making.

Alongside the review, Mountbatten-Windsor reduced the costs associated with his international travel, shifting from chartered private jets to scheduled flights. His travel expenses, covered through the royal travel grant, fell substantially from £760,000 in 2007-08 to £435,000 in 2008-09, and further declined to just over £350,000 for five trips during 2010-11. This reduction occurred amid public backlash over the use of private helicopters and other costly transport methods, including an incident documented in a National Audit Office report where the duke used an RAF aircraft to travel to a golf outing in St Andrews.

Separately, Mountbatten-Windsor is currently under investigation for suspected misconduct in public office after documents released by the U.S. Department of Justice alleged that he shared confidential information with Jeffrey Epstein during his tenure as a trade envoy. The investigation remains ongoing, with details emerging from materials connected to the Epstein Files.