Prince Andrew is in the news today. It has been revealed that Palace records show the Duke of York undertaking engagements in Saudi Arabia and China for UK Trade and Investment (UKTI) since he stepped down as special representative for trade in July 2011.
According to the Court Circular, the Duke has met four foreign heads of state in the past six months. Robert Booth writes today:
The government has been urged to explain why Prince Andrew has met four foreign heads of state in the past six months and embarked on two full-scale government trade missions despite stepping down as the UK’s special representative for trade.
The Duke of York announced last July that he would relinquish the role following criticism of his association with a convicted child sex offender, Jeffrey Epstein, and business connections with dictators including Colonel Gaddafi.
But palace records reveal he has remained at the heart of the UK government’s export drive and has carried out 17 engagements in Saudi Arabia and China for UK Trade and Investment, an arm of the Department for Business, Innovation and Skills, since the announcement that he was no longer the special representative for trade.
The tables below show details of Prince Andrew’s meetings and engagements over the past 12 months. These are not all the meetings the Prince has undertaken over this time period but those within four categories; meetings for or with representatives of UKTI, UK government ministers, UK government diplomats and foreign government.
The first table shows the number of engagements undertaken by month within the four categories explained above. The second table details each of the engagements individually along with the date of the event. The engagements sourced from the Court Circular are from the 28th January 2011- 27th January 2012.
Data summary
The Duke of York’s engagements
Click heading to sort table. Download this data
Date: 28.01.2011- 27.01.2012
Source: Court Circular
January 2011.
1
1
February
18
1
1
2
March
11
2
April
4
2
2
2
May
2
6
June
2
5
July
1
August
September
12
8
12
October
4
1
3
3
November
1
3
5
10
December
1
3
January 2012.
3
1
TOTAL
51
15
21
46
JAN TO JULY
34
7
5
17
JULY TO JAN 12
17
8
16
29
Duke of York’s engagements – individually listed
Click heading to sort table. Download this data
Date: 28.01.2011- 27.01.2012
Source: Court Circular
January 28, 2011.
The Duke of York, Special Representative for International Trade and Investment, today attended the World Economic Forum Annual Meeting in Davos, Switzerland
Y
January 28, 2011.
attended Meetings with the following: The President of the Republic of Azerbaijan; the Prime Minister of the Kingdom of Thailand; the Chairman of BP; the Minister of International Trade and Industry of Malaysia; the Prime Minister of the Kurdistan Region of the Republic of Iraq; the Chief Executive, Investment Bank, JPMorgan Chase and the Chairman of the China Banking Regulatory Commission.
Y
February 1, 2011.
The Duke of York, Special Representative for International Trade and Investment, this morning visited BBC Worldwide, 201 Wood Lane, London W12
Y
February 1, 2011.
His Royal Highness, Special Representative for International Trade and Investment, this afternoon attended a Luncheon given by Sheikh Khalid Alireza (Chairman, Xenel Industries) at the Dorchester Hotel, Park Lane, London W1
Y
Y
February 1, 2011.
The Duke of York, Special Representative for International Trade and Investment, afterwards visited United Kingdom Financial Investments Limited, Oceanic House, 1A Cockspur Street, London SW1
Y
February 1, 2011.
The Duke of York, Special Representative for International Trade and Investment, received Mr. Jonathan Sedgwick (Chief Executive, UK Border Agency) and Ms. Barbara Woodward (International Director)
Y
February 2, 2011.
His Royal Highness, Special Representative for International Trade and Investment, received His Excellency Mr. Abdulla Ali Mohamed Al-Radhi (Ambassador from the Republic of Yemen)
Y
Y
February 2, 2011.
His Royal Highness, Special Representative for International Trade and Investment, later visited Coller Capital, 33 Cavendish Square, London W1
Y
February 2, 2011.
His Royal Highness, Special Representative for International Trade and Investment subsequently received Ms. Josette Sheeran (Executive Director, United Nations World Food Programme)
Y
February 2, 2011.
The Duke of York, Special Representative for International Trade and Investment, this evening gave a Dinner at St. James’s Palace on the occasion of the India-UK CEOs Forum
Y
February 7, 2011.
The Duke of York, Special Representative for International Trade and Investment, this afternoon gave a Luncheon for representatives from L.E.K. Consulting at Buckingham Palace
Y
February 8, 2011.
His Royal Highness, Special Representative for International Trade and Investment, received the Lord Levene of Portsoken (Chairman, Lloyd’s of London)
Y
February 9, 2011.
His Royal Highness, Special Representative for International Trade and Investment, later received Mrs. Susan Haird (Acting Chief Executive, United Kingdom Trade and Investment)
Y
February 11, 2011.
The Duke of York, Special Representative for International Trade and Investment, today received the Lord Green of Hurstpierpoint (Minister of State for Trade and Investment)
Y
February 14, 2011.
The Duke of York, Special Representative for International Trade and Investment, this afternoon received Dr. Antony Stokes (Her Majesty’s Ambassador to the Socialist Republic of Vietnam)
Y
Y
February 16, 2011.
The Duke of York, Special Representative for International Trade and Investment, this morning received the Rt. Hon. Mr. William Hague MP (Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs)
Y
Y
February 16, 2011.
His Royal Highness, Special Representative for International Trade and Investment, this afternoon received Mr. Arun Sarin
Y
February 23, 2011.
The Duke of York, Special Representative for International Trade and Investment, received Mr. Patrick Crawford (Chief Executive, Export Credits Guarantee Department) and Mr. John Snowdon (Head of Civil and Defence Projects, Export Credits Guarantee Department)
Y
February 24, 2011.
His Royal Highness, Special Representative for International Trade and Investment, afterwards received Professor the Lord Stern of Brentford (Chair, Centre for Climate Change Economics and Policy)
Y
February 28, 2011.
His Royal Highness, Special Representative for International Trade and Investment, this evening attended a Dinner given by Numis Corporation, London Stock Exchange Building, 10 Paternoster Square, London EC4
Y
March 1, 2011.
The Duke of York, Special Representative for International Trade and Investment, this afternoon received a Briefing at the Cabinet Office, 70 Whitehall, London SW1, and subsequently called upon Sir Jon Cunliffe (the Prime Minister’s Adviser on International Economic Affairs and Europe, Cabinet Office).
Y
Y
March 2, 2011.
The Duke of York, Special Representative for International Trade and Investment, this morning visited CancerPartners UK, Unit 710, Centennial Park, Elstree, and was received by Her Majesty’s Lord-Lieutenant of Hertfordshire (the Countess of Verulam).
Y
March 3, 2011.
The Duke of York, Special Representative for International Trade and Investment, this morning held a Meeting for representatives of the healthcare sector.
Y
March 3, 2011.
His Royal Highness, Special Representative for International Trade and Investment, this afternoon received Mr. Samir Brikho (Chief Executive, AMEC)
Y
March 7, 2011.
His Royal Highness, Special Representative for International Trade and Investment, afterwards visited Cross Rail, 25 Canada Square, Canary Wharf, London E14.
Y
March 7, 2011.
The Duke of York, Special Representative for International Trade and Investment, this afternoon received Mr. Mark Field MP (Member of Parliament for the Cities of London and Westminster)
Y
March 10, 2011.
His Royal Highness, Special Representative for International Trade and Investment, this afternoon held a Meeting for representatives from the creative industries sector
Y
March 23, 2011.
His Royal Highness, Special Representative for International Trade and Investment, received Mr. Iain Gray (Chief Executive, Technology Strategy Board)
Y
March 24, 2011.
this morning received Sir Alan Collins (Her Majesty’s Consul-General for New York) and Miss Amanda Marshall (Head of Olympic Legacy Unit, United Kingdom Trade and Investment)
Y
March 24, 2011.
His Royal Highness, Special Representative for International Trade and Investment, this afternoon received Mr. Rory Tapner (Chief Executive, Wealth Management, Royal Bank of Scotland).
Y
March 30, 2011.
Briefing at the Ministry of Defence, Whitehall, London SW1
Y
March 30, 2011.
Luncheon at Jardine Matheson, 3 Lombard Street, London EC3
Y
April 1, 2011.
Lord Green of Hurstpierpoint (Minister of State for Trade and Investment).
Y
Y
April 5, 2011.
Her Majesty’s Ambassador to the Republic of Indonesia (His Excellency Mr. Martin Hatfull)
Y
Y
April 12, 2011.
His Royal Highness, Special Representative for International Trade and Investment, this afternoon received Mr. Paul Skinner (Chairman, Infrastructure UK), Lady Judge (Chairman Emeritus, UK Atomic Energy Authority) and Mr. Richard Olver (Chairman, BAE Systems plc)
Y
April 15, 2011.
The Duke of York this evening called upon The Crown Prince of Bahrain at his Residence in London
Y
April 18, 2011.
briefing and opened the UK Trade and Investment London Headquarters, Victoria Street, London SW1
Y
April 29, 2011.
royal wedding
Y
Y
Y
May 9, 2011.
Ambassador from the People’s Republic of China (His Excellency Mr. Liu Xiaoming).
Y
May 9, 2011.
Ambassador from the United Arab Emirates (His Excellency Mr. Abdulrahman Almutaiwee)
Y
May 10, 2011.
Her Majesty’s Ambassador to Japan (Mr. David Warren)
Y
May 16, 2011.
Meeting with the Vice Minister of Foreign Affairs at the Ministry
Y
May 17, 2011.
Vice Premier Li Keqiang in the Great Hall of the People.
Y
May 17, 2011.
Her Majesty’s Consul-General for Chongqing (Mr. Simon Lever)
Y
May 19, 2011.
The Duke of York this morning called upon the Chongqing Party Secretary at the office of the Party Secretary in Chongqing, China.
Y
May 24, 2011.
Obama visit
Y
June 1, 2011.
Mr. Martin Donnelly (Permanent Secretary, Department for Business, Innovation and Skills).
Y
June 1, 2011.
Rt. Hon. Mr. David Willetts MP (Minister of State for Universities and Science, Department for Business, Innovation and Skills)
Y
June 20, 2011.
His Royal Highness this afternoon attended a Luncheon given by the Ambassador from the State of Kuwait (His Excellency Mr. Khaled Al Duwaisan)
Y
June 20, 2011.
Ambassador from the Socialist Republic of Vietnam (His Excellency Mr. Vu Quang Minh)
Y
June 21, 2011.
The President of the Republic of Namibia later called upon His Royal Highness
Y
June 30, 2011.
His Royal Highness received Mr. Mark Canning (Her Majesty’s Ambassador to the Republic of Indonesia)
Y
June 30, 2011.
His Royal Highness this afternoon received Mr. Ian Lindsay (Her Majesty’s Ambassador designate to the Kingdom of Bahrain)
Y
July 5, 2011.
His Royal Highness this evening received the Ambassador from the People’s Republic of China (His Excellency Mr. Liu Xiaoming).
Y
September 5, 2011.
held a series of Meetings at the Town and County Hall, Union Street, Aberdeen, with the following: Mr. Marcos Assayag (Equipment and Logistics Programme Manager, Petrobras) and Dr. Antonio Claudio Correa (Reservoir Engineering Project Manager, Petrobras); Mr. Nurlan Sauranbayev (Vice Minister of Industry and Technologies, Kazakhstan) and Mr. Ernest Nwapa (Executive Secretary, Nigerian Content Development Board)
Y
September 14, 2011.
received Mr. Peter Bateman (Her Majesty’s Ambassador (designate) to the Republic of Azerbaijan)
Y
September 14, 2011.
gave a Luncheon at Buckingham Palace for the Chief Executive of Hong Kong Special Administrative Region, China
Y
September 19, 2011.
arrived at Dhahran Military Airbase and was received by Her Majesty’s Ambassador to the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia (His Excellency Sir Tom Phillips)
Y
Y
September 19, 2011.
called upon the Governor of Eastern Province (Prince Mohammed Bin Fahd Bin Abdul Aziz al Saud) and the Deputy Governor of Eastern Province (Prince Jalawi Bin Abdul Aziz Bin Mosaad Al-Saud) at the office of the Governor of Eastern Province in Al Khobar
Y
Y
September 19, 2011.
attended a Dinner given by the Chairman of Xenel Industries at the Xenel Industries Beach House in Jeddah and was received by Her Majesty’s Consul-General for Jeddah (Mr. Mohammed Showkat)
Y
Y
September 20, 2011.
called upon the Mayor of Jeddah at the Jeddah Municipality, Saudi Arabia
Y
September 20, 2011.
attended a Meeting with the Minister of Labour at Qasr al Sharq Hotel, Jeddah
Y
Y
September 20, 2011.
attended a Dinner for representatives of Saudi businesses given by Her Majesty’s Ambassador to the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia (His Excellency Sir Tom Phillips) at the Residence in Riyadh
Y
Y
September 21, 2011.
called upon the Minister of Health at the Ministry
Y
Y
September 21, 2011.
called upon Prince Sattam bin Abdulaziz Al Saud (Deputy Governor of Riyadh)
Y
Y
September 21, 2011.
subsequently attended a Luncheon given by the Minister of Trade
Y
Y
September 21, 2011.
attended a Dinner given by Prince Al Waleed Al Talal (Chief Executive, Kingdom Holdings)
Y
Y
September 22, 2011.
called upon Prince Abdulaziz bin Ahmed Al Saud (Chairman, Atheeb Group) in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia
Y
Y
September 22, 2011.
attended a Dinner in Riyadh given by Prince Sultan bin Salman Bin Abdulaziz Al Saud (Minister of Tourism and Antiquities)
Y
Y
September 27, 2011.
arrived at Singapore Changi Airport and was received by the British High Commissioner to the Republic of Singapore (His Excellency Mr. Antony Phillipson)
Y
September 28, 2011.
attended a Dinner given by the British High Commissioner to the Republic of Singapore (His Excellency Mr. Antony Phillipson) at Eden Hall in Singapore
Y
September 29, 2011.
attended a Sports, Leisure and Tourism Dinner given by the British High Commissioner to the Republic of Singapore (His Excellency Mr. Antony Phillipson) at Eden Hall
Y
September 30, 2011.
attended a British Chamber of Commerce Luncheon for British entrepreneurs given by the British High Commissioner to the Republic of Singapore at Eden Hall
Y
September 30, 2011.
was received by The President of the Republic of Singapore at the Istana
Y
September 30, 2011.
called upon the Emeritus Senior Minister at the Istana
Y
October 10, 2011.
received Mr. John Hayes MP (Minister of State for Further Education, Skills and Lifelong Learning)
Y
October 12, 2011.
received Sir Eric Peacock (Non-Executive Director, United Kingdom Trade and Investment)
Y
October 20, 2011.
received The President of Mongolia
Y
October 23, 2011.
arrived in China and was received by Her Majesty’s Consul-General for Shanghai (Mr. Brian Davidson)
Y
October 25, 2011.
was received by Her Majesty’s Consul-General for Guangzhou (Mr. Alastair Morgan)
Y
Y
October 27, 2011.
held a Meeting with the Financial Secretary of Hong Kong and was received by Her Majesty’s Consul-General for Hong Kong and Macao (Mr. Andrew Seaton)
Y
Y
Y
October 30, 2011.
was received by the British High Commissioner to Malaysia (His Excellency Mr. Simon Featherstone)
Y
October 31, 2011.
called upon the Prime Minister of Malaysia at Seri Perdana, Putrajaya
Y
November 1, 2011.
called upon the Sultan of Johor at Isatana Besar Johor
Y
November 9, 2011.
received Mr. Angus Millar (Caspian Energy Adviser, Foreign and Commonwealth Office)
Y
November 9, 2011.
received Mr. Nicholas Baird (Chief Executive, United Kingdom Trade and Investment)
Y
November 14, 2011.
received His Excellency Mr. Antony Phillipson (British High Commissioner to the Republic of Singapore)
Y
November 14, 2011.
The President of the Republic of Panama subsequently called upon The Duke of York
Y
November 20, 2011.
arrived at Doha International Airport and was received by Her Majesty’s Ambassador to the State of Qatar (His Excellency Mr. John Hawkins)
Y
November 20, 2011.
received Sheikh Abdullah Saud Al Thani (Governor, Qatar Central Bank)
Y
November 21, 2011.
called upon the Deputy Prime Minister and Chief of the Amiri Diwan at the Amiri Diwan
Y
November 21, 2011.
called upon the Minister of Trade (Sheikh Jassim bin Abdulaziz Al-Thani) at the Ministry
Y
November 21, 2011.
called upon the Prime Minister of the State of Qatar (Sheikh Hamid bin Jassim bin Jaber Al Thani) at the Amiri Diwan
Y
November 21, 2011.
received the Minister of State, Department of Energy and Climate Change (Mr. Charles Hendry, MP) at Four Seasons Hotel Doha
Y
November 22, 2011.
attended the opening of the Shell Pearl GTL project at Ras Laffan Industrial City, Doha, Qatar, by The Emir of the State of Qatar
Y
November 23, 2011.
was received by The Emir of the State of Qatar at the Amiri Diwan this morning
Y
November 23, 2011.
was received this afternoon upon arrival at Abu Dhabi International Airport by Her Majesty’s Ambassador to the United Arab Emirates (His Excellency Mr. Dominic Jermey).
Y
November 23, 2011.
His Royal Highness afterwards attended a Meeting with the Lord Sassoon (Commercial Secretary to the Treasury), the Lord Marland (Under-Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change) and the Rt. Hon. Nicholas Soames MP at the Rocco Forte Hotel, Abu Dhabi
Y
November 24, 2011.
attended a Luncheon given by Sheikh Suroor bin Mohammed Al Nahyan at the Etihad Towers
Y
November 24, 2011.
attended a Reception given by the Her Majesty’s Ambassador to the United Arab Emirates (His Excellency Mr. Dominic Jermey) at the Residence
Y
November 27, 2011.
called upon The Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi at the Bateen Palace in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates.
Y
November 30, 2011.
was received upon arrival this afternoon at Dulles International Airport, Washington DC, by Her Majesty’s Ambassador to the United States of America (His Excellency Sir Nigel Sheinwald)
Y
December 8, 2011.
had a Meeting with Mr. David McAllister (Minister President of Lower Saxony) at Hannover Airport
Y
December 9, 2011.
received His Excellency Mr. Nguyen Sinh Hung (President of the National Assembly of Vietnam).
Y
December 13, 2011.
called upon The King of Bahrain at the Four Seasons Hotel London at Park Lane, Hamilton Place, Park Lane, London W1
Y
December 14, 2011.
received the Rt. Hon. George Osborne MP (Chancellor of the Exchequer)
Y
January 9, 2012.
attended a Reception given by the Rt. Hon. William Hague MP (Secretary of State, Foreign and Commonwealth Office) to mark the Education World Forum at Lancaster House, London SW1
Y
January 11, 2012.
received Sir Jeremy Heywood (Cabinet Secretary)
Y
January 11, 2012.
received the Rt. Hon. Andrew Mitchell MP (Secretary of State for International Development)
Y
January 27, 2012.
gave a Dinner for the Minister of Trade of the Republic of Indonesia
Y
Download the data
• DATA: download the full spreadsheet
NEW! Buy our book
• Facts are Sacred: the power of data (on Kindle)
More open data
Data journalism and data visualisations from the Guardian
World government data
• Search the world’s government data with our gateway
Development and aid data
• Search the world’s global development data with our gateway
Can you do something with this data?
• Flickr Please post your visualisations and mash-ups on our Flickr group
• Contact us at data@guardian.co.uk
• Get the A-Z of data
• More at the Datastore directory
• Follow us on Twitter
• Like us on Facebook