Buckingham Palace Received 30,000 Prince Andrew Emails in 2020 as Police Probe His Dealings
Updated
Updated · BBC.com · May 30
Buckingham Palace Received 30,000 Prince Andrew Emails in 2020 as Police Probe His Dealings
3 articles · Updated · BBC.com · May 30
Court documents show Buckingham Palace was given a copy of a 30,000-email archive in May 2020, years before the current police inquiry into Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor.
The cache could have shown Andrew sharing confidential government information while serving as trade envoy; published emails earlier this year showed him passing a Treasury briefing on Icelandic banks to Jonathan Rowland in 2010.
High Court rulings from 2021 and 2022 say the archive—taken from Rowland's account during a business dispute—was delivered to the Lord Chamberlain after retail entrepreneur Kevin Stanford circulated it to authorities and others.
Buckingham Palace declined comment, citing an ongoing police inquiry, while Thames Valley Police said only that it was aware of public allegations and urged anyone with relevant information to come forward.
The emails relate to Andrew's controversial ties to the Rowlands and Banque Havilland, adding to scrutiny that has already intensified under King Charles after Andrew's arrest on suspicion of misconduct in public office.
The Palace knew for six years. Why was Prince Andrew only arrested now?
Beyond royal scandal, did a UK trade envoy help a bank plan an economic attack on Qatar?
Is Prince Andrew's scandal a personal failure or proof of a broken system of royal accountability?
Prince Andrew’s 2026 Arrest: The 30,000-Email Scandal, Epstein Ties, and the Crisis Facing the British Monarchy
Overview
On February 19, 2026, Prince Andrew was arrested at Sandringham estate, marking the first time a senior British royal faced such action in centuries. He was accused of sharing confidential trade information with Jeffrey Epstein and released under investigation after 11 hours in custody. This arrest triggered a wide-ranging Thames Valley Police inquiry into both misconduct in public office and sexual misconduct, with a special focus on his official roles. The investigation intensified after the British government released documents about his 2001 trade envoy appointment, following requests from lawmakers for details on his suitability and vetting.