Andrew facing claim he shared Treasury document with banking contact

Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor faces another accusation of sharing an official document, with reports that he gave a Treasury briefing to one of his personal business contacts.

Emails published in the Telegraph suggest that in 2010 the then Prince Andrew asked for information from Treasury officials on banking problems in Iceland.

This briefing was shared with Jonathan Rowland, a business connection of Andrew's, whose father David Rowland took over part of a failing Icelandic bank.

It means more pressure on the former prince over claims that he misused his public role by giving official information to private associates, at a time when he was serving as the UK's trade envoy.

Jonathan Rowland told the BBC he had "no idea" about the reference to him in the emails - and that the emails quoted are from legal proceedings from some time ago.

The Cabinet Office said it would not comment, but is not disputing the authenticity of the emails.

A spokesman for the Cabinet Office referred to Thames Valley Police's current position, in which they are assessing whether to launch an investigation into possible misconduct in public office.

This follows emails from the Epstein files suggesting that Mountbatten-Windsor had forwarded official documents to Jeffrey Epstein, such as reports from overseas trade trips to south east Asia and a briefing by UK officials on investment in Afghanistan, described by the former prince as "confidential".

The information from the Treasury requested by Mountbatten-Windsor, via his adviser, was "an update note on the latest position between the UK and Iceland on the matter of the deposits and the deposit guarantee scheme", according to emails published by the Telegraph.

This was at a time when Iceland's banking sector faced problems, after three large banks based there got into severe difficulties, following the 2008 financial crisis, and had to be nationalised.

In 2010, there was a dispute between Iceland and the UK over whether Iceland should contribute to compensating UK depositors in the failed Icelandic banks.

Soon after receiving the information from the Treasury, the briefing was forwarded to Jonathan Rowland.

"I pass this on to you for comment and a suggestion or solution?" wrote Mountbatten-Windsor.

"The essence is that Amanda is getting signals that we should allow the democratic process [to] happen before you make your move. Interested in your opinion? A."

Jonathan Rowland's father David took over the Luxembourg part of the largest Icelandic bank, Kaupthing, which became Banque Havilland.

Jonathan Rowland was chief executive of Banque Havilland. He left in 2013.

The Epstein files reveal the closeness of Andrew to David Rowland, with the former prince calling him his "trusted money man".

It appeared that he was promoting Rowland's ventures to Epstein.

"He is actively seeking high net worth individuals for his Private Bank. Perhaps this is an avenue for your undecided Chinese?" Mountbatten-Windsor wrote to Epstein, in October 2010, about Rowland's Banque Havilland.

Epstein replied: "His bank just might be the place.. I guess i should learn more."

The emails released by the US Department of Justice also seem to suggest that Rowland's bank had made loans to Andrew's ex-wife Sarah Ferguson, who faced debt problems.

Banque Havilland has faced problems with regulators in the UK and Europe, and lost its banking licence in 2024, a decision which the bank is appealing.

Rowland and his son Jonathan appeared to have had a close relationship with Mountbatten-Windsor, joining him on trips in his capacity as an official trade envoy, to places such as China and former Soviet states.

Mountbatten-Windsor had been a guest at the opening of the Banque Havilland and David Rowland had attended the former prince's birthday party and the wedding of his daughter Princess Eugenie.

Rowland's son Jonathan told the BBC he and his father "never had any contact or correspondence or had dinner or met with" Epstein.

Jonathan Rowland did not deny to the BBC that he or his father or Banque Havilland might have paid or lent money to Mountbatten-Windsor or Ferguson, but denied that he had ever provided money in exchange for access to contacts.

There is no suggestion of wrongdoing on the part of Jonathan and David Rowland.

Andrew-Mountbatten Windsor has been contacted for comment and has strongly denied any wrongdoing in his association with Jeffrey Epstein.