Queen pushed for ex-prince Andrew’s appointment as trade envoy, documents show

The U.K. government on Thursday released the confidential papers related to Andrew’s appointment, just months after lawmakers accused the king’s brother of putting his friendship with Jeffrey Epstein ahead of the nation.

Lawmakers approved a motion in February demanding publication of the documents after the one-time prince, now known simply as Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor, was arrested on charges related to allegations that he shared government reports with Epstein while he was trade envoy.

Lawmakers compelled the release of the documents in February as they seek to shed light on the thinking in government at the time of the decision in 2001.

The former prince was the first member of the British royal family to be arrested in more than three centuries.