Buckingham Palace received a dossier containing around 30,000 emails in 2020 that reportedly include evidence suggesting Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor, the former Duke of York, may have shared confidential government information with business associates during his tenure as a British trade envoy from 2001 to 2011. The dossier, which was sent to the Lord Chamberlain—the senior officer of the Royal Household—has come under scrutiny amid an ongoing police investigation.
Court documents and reports indicate the emails originated from the personal account of Jonathan Rowland, former chief executive of Banque Havilland, a private bank based in Luxembourg linked to the collapsed Icelandic bank Kaupthing. The correspondence allegedly shows Mountbatten-Windsor requesting and forwarding a confidential Treasury briefing in 2010 concerning the Icelandic financial crisis to Rowland, who had business interests connected to the region. One email reportedly features Mountbatten-Windsor asking Rowland for his opinion on the briefing and possible solutions, raising questions about the use of sensitive information.
The dossier was brought to public attention as Thames Valley Police expanded an investigation into Mountbatten-Windsor in connection with allegations of misconduct in public office. The former royal was arrested in February on suspicion of such misconduct, with police also examining claims of sexual offenses. The police last week renewed an appeal for witnesses and information relevant to their inquiries.
The emails were reportedly obtained without authorization in 2013 by Kevin Stanford, a former fashion executive involved in a legal dispute with the Rowlands. Court rulings from 2021 and 2022 confirm that Stanford handed over the email archive to Buckingham Palace’s Lord Chamberlain in 2020, months after Mountbatten-Windsor had withdrawn from official royal duties.
Mountbatten-Windsor has consistently denied any wrongdoing, including accusations that he profited personally from his role as a trade envoy. Buckingham Palace has declined to comment on the matter, citing the ongoing police investigation. A palace spokesperson said it was “not possible to provide any comment” and reiterated its full cooperation with law enforcement.
The revelations have intensified calls from political figures for greater transparency and formal inquiries. Labour MP Rachael Maskell emphasized the need for a public inquiry into Mountbatten-Windsor’s role as a trade envoy and the broader system around the Royal Household, citing concerns about unaccountable power and potential abuses in high office. Former minister Norman Baker criticized the Palace's reluctance to provide further information, arguing that the traditional approach of “never explain” is no longer acceptable.
Former press secretary to Queen Elizabeth II, Ailsa Anderson, urged patience with the ongoing investigation while acknowledging that standards and knowledge around transparency have evolved over time. She described the emails as significant but cautioned against speculation about the Palace’s prior actions.
Alongside scrutiny over the alleged sharing of confidential information, Mountbatten-Windsor’s connections to convicted financier Jeffrey Epstein have also contributed to public and police examination. Documents from the Epstein files reportedly indicate Mountbatten-Windsor advocated for business associates linked to Epstein during official trade missions, although Mountbatten-Windsor has denied inappropriate conduct in this regard.
The investigation by Thames Valley Police remains active as authorities continue to assess the evidence related to Mountbatten-Windsor’s conduct during his royal duties and subsequent business dealings.