Newly released UK government documents say the late Queen Elizabeth II was “very keen” in 2001 for her then-son, Prince Andrew, to be appointed Britain’s trade envoy. Multiple outlets report that the papers were made public after the UK government released confidential files related to the hiring process for the role. PBS NewsHour adds that the disclosure occurs in response to legislation passed by Parliament following lawmakers’ accusations that Andrew prioritized his friendship with Jeffrey Epstein over national interests. The reports describe a letter attributed to the head of Britain’s trade body, stating: “The Queen is very keen that the Duke of York should take on a prominent role in the promotion of national interests.” The West Australian reports the UK government says it found no evidence of proper vetting for the appointment. Overall, the documents portray strong royal support for Andrew’s trade envoy role, while also raising questions about the procedures used to assess his suitability at the time.