Buckingham Palace Received Emails Detailing Andrew Mountbatten-Windsors Confidential Government Disclosures in 2020, Court Documents Show

Buckingham Palace was provided with a cache of emails six years ago that would have revealed Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor shared confidential government information while serving as a trade envoy, according to court documents. An archive of 30,000 emails containing details about the former prince's controversial financial dealings was handed to the Lord Chamberlain, the most senior officer in the Royal Household, in May 2020. The emails had been taken from a personal business contact of Mountbatten-Windsor.

Emails Sent to Lord Chamberlain Amid Legal Dispute

The disclosure emerged through a search of High Court records, showing that a "copy of the archive" was provided to the Lord Chamberlain in May 2020, as detailed in a judgment from April 2021. A subsequent High Court ruling in June 2022 referenced an email dated 10 July 2020 stating the materials had been "delivered to Buckingham Palace". This delivery occurred after Mountbatten-Windsor had stepped down as a working royal, following his November 2019 BBC Newsnight interview. The emails, covering correspondence up to June 2013, had been the subject of a legal dispute between Jonathan Rowland and a business colleague.

When asked about what became of the emails, Buckingham Palace stated: "Since there is an ongoing police enquiry concerning Mr Mountbatten-Windsor, it is not possible to provide any comment on these matters." Last week, Thames Valley Police issued a fresh appeal for witnesses, following Mountbatten-Windsor's arrest on suspicion of misconduct in public office earlier this year. The police inquiry is separate from the earlier receipt of the email archive by Palace officials.

Content Reveals Sharing of Treasury Briefing

Earlier this year, the Telegraph published emails showing Mountbatten-Windsor had requested a confidential briefing from Treasury officials in 2010 and then shared it with a personal business contact, providing the material "before you make your move". The briefing concerned problems in Iceland's banking industry. The recipient was Jonathan Rowland, whose father David Rowland had taken over the Luxembourg arm of the failed Icelandic bank Kaupthing, which became Banque Havilland. Jonathan Rowland previously confirmed to the BBC that these published messages about Icelandic banks were taken from his account and formed part of legal proceedings, indicating they were included in the archive later sent to the Palace.

The emails relate to a highly controversial period in Mountbatten-Windsor's financial dealings with the Rowlands and Banque Havilland. The bank later faced sanctions from regulators in the United Kingdom and the European Union. While the contents of the full archive are not publicly known, the published correspondence provides glimpses of their potential relevance to ongoing inquiries.

Epstein Files Show Mountbatten-Windsor's Ties to Rowlands

The release of the Epstein Files earlier this year in the United States demonstrated Mountbatten-Windsor's closeness to the Rowland family. The files show Mountbatten-Windsor promoting their business ventures and giving personal assurances for David Rowland, describing him as his "trusted money man". His ex-wife Sarah Ferguson was also recorded as receiving a "Rowland bank loan". These documents further contextualize the financial relationships at the center of the email archive.

Emails Taken After Dispute with Business Colleague

According to court documents, the emails sent to the Palace had been taken from Jonathan Rowland's account following a dispute with a business colleague. They were subsequently obtained by retail entrepreneur Kevin Stanford, former majority owner of All Saints, who had been in a separate legal dispute. The emails became part of court proceedings over alleged theft, and it was during those battles that it was revealed copies had been given to the Palace.

Context: The case parallels other instances where British officials or public figures faced scrutiny over handling of confidential information, such as the 2021 police investigation into former cabinet minister Matt Hancock for alleged breaches of COVID-19 regulations. Additionally, the controversy mirrors earlier questions about royal involvement in business dealings, including the 2015 inquiry into Prince Michael of Kent's commercial activities in Russia.