Duke resigns role as special ambassador

Published on Thursday 21 July 2011 20:40

The Duke of York is to step down from his role as the UK's roving business ambassador, Buckingham Palace confirmed last night.

Andrew gives up the post following the intense scrutiny he faced earlier this year over his relationships with a series of controversial figures, including a convicted paedophile.

The duke has been dogged by accusations of a lack of judgment about his links with American billionaire Jeffrey Epstein, who was sentenced to 18 months in prison in 2008 for soliciting a minor for prostitution. A Buckingham Palace spokeswoman said: "The role as Special Representative will no longer exist as the Duke of York has decided to relinquish it after ten years."

The spokeswoman stressed that Andrew would continue to undertake official overseas trips as a member of the Royal Family in support of Britain's foreign interest.

Calls for the duke to resign or be removed from his role were made in March by Labour MP Chris Bryant, a former Foreign Office minister, and senior Labour backbencher Mike Gapes.

A leaked letter written by retired diplomat Stephen Day, a former ambassador to Qatar and Tunisia, to Foreign Secretary William Hague stated that an "entirely new role should be found for him as soon as possible".

At the height of the media interest the duke pulled out of a business trip to Saudi Arabia.

But Buckingham Palace sources stressed the decision was "nothing to do" with the press coverage and was made for security reasons.

Andrew appeared to weather the storm and carried on with his public duties. He flew to Indonesia in April for a three-day business visit.

Further doubts were raised about the duke's position in the wake of media coverage about him entertaining the son-in-law of ousted Tunisian president Zine El Abidine Ben Ali at Buckingham Palace.

Andrew also held a meeting with Libya's embattled leader Colonel Gaddafi while on a private visit to Tunisia in 2008.

But as the criticism mounted in March, he received the backing of Prime Minister David Cameron and Chancellor George Osborne.

The duke states on his website: "As the evolution of my role continues apace and in order to reflect the changes I have outlined, I have decided that the label I gave myself when I began this role of Special Representative has served its purpose and is no longer necessary to the work that I do today and in the future.

"I am tremendously grateful for the continued support of Her Majesty's Government and the business community in particular, which has been instrumental in delivering prosperity and enabling me to undertake this role."

He also outlines his plans to focus more on helping with the training of young people for the work environment, and helping small and medium-sized businesses in the export market.