Cover-up claim as Andrew file withheld from the National Archives

Historical royal documents relating to Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor were released by mistake and have now been redacted.

The Cabinet Office has been accused of covering up for the royal family after it emerged that official papers which refer to Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor have been withheld from the National Archives.

The annual release of government papers to the archives in Kew, west London, under the 20-year rule includes a No 10 file from 2004 and 2005 on royal visits.

A version originally made available to journalists under embargo so they could prepare stories in advance, included minutes of a meeting where officials discussed the travel plans of various royals – including the Duke of York as he then still was.

However the minutes were subsequently redacted from the file before it was made available to the public.

The Cabinet Office, which is responsible for transferring the files to the National Archives, blamed an “administrative error” as they had never been intended for release.

A spokesman said: “All records are managed in line with the requirements of the Public Records Act. Any release is subject to an extensive review process, including engaging expert stakeholders.”

However Graham Smith, chief executive of anti-monarchy campaign group Republic, said there was no justification for withholding the documents, especially since Andrew has been stripped of his royal status amid continuing controversy over his links with the paedophile financier Jeffery Epstein.

“There should be no royal exemption at all. But this exemption surely doesn’t apply to Andrew now he’s no longer a royal,” Mr Smith said.

“The most likely reason for this attempt to stop disclosure is pressure from the Palace. The royals have sought to keep everything under wraps when it comes to Andrew, not to protect him but to protect themselves.

The National Archives at Kew / Credit: Andrew Matthews/PA

“The royals are one of the most secretive institutions in the UK. These documents should be released without fear or favour, to allow the public to make informed judgments about the royals.”

Andrew has always denied any wrongdoing.

The minutes, which were seen by journalists including the Press Association, before they were pulled from the file would appear to be unexceptionable.

There is discussion by senior palace and Foreign Office officials about his travel plans as a UK trade envoy – which earned him the nickname “air miles Andy” – with visits to China, Russia, south-east Asia and Spain.

Officials also raised the issue of whether the Football Association would be prepared to pay for him to attend the Euro 2004 tournament in Portugal as a royal representative.

It was noted that a change to the rules for royal travel meant that his visits as a trade envoy would in future be funded by the Royal Travel Office – rather than UK Trade and Industry – which would have to find an additional £90,000.

Elsewhere, the minutes show that a bid for Prince William (now the Prince of Wales) to visit China was turned down, on the grounds that he should not undertake official duties until he was at least 25.

The retention of the minutes underlines the way that files relating to the royal family are routinely withheld from release under the Public Records Act.