𝓤𝓷𝓲𝓽𝓮𝓭 𝓝𝓮𝔀𝓼

An MP has labelled Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor a “rude, arrogant, and entitled man”. Sir Chris Bryant MP made the remarks in the House of Commons, where he also spoke about a personal encounter with the former prince during a visit to a group of sea cadets in the Rhondda.

He stated that the youngsters were “absolutely delighted and excited” to meet a member of the royal family, yet Andrew departed early and showed “next to no interest” in the young people.

Sir Chris further revealed that the former prince insisted on arriving by helicopter, in stark contrast to his mother Queen Elizabeth II, who visited the Rhondda Valleys by car on several occasions.

The remarks were made in the House of Commons as ministers and MPs agreed to release documents relating to Andrew’s appointment as a UK trade envoy. Trade Secretary Sir Chris confirmed that the UK Government backed a Liberal Democrat motion to publish files concerning the former prince’s appointment to the position in 2001.

However, MPs were informed that the government is unable to release material required by police for their investigations until officers are “satisfied.”

The former Duke of York faces allegations of passing sensitive information to paedophile Jeffrey Epstein whilst serving as a special representative for trade and investment between 2001 and 2011.

He was arrested on suspicion of misconduct in public office last week before being released under investigation.

In the Commons, Sir Chris, who has served as Labour MP for Rhondda since 2001, described Andrew as “a man on a constant self-aggrandising and self-enriching hustle” and “a rude, arrogant, and entitled man who could not distinguish between the public interest, which he said he served, and his own private interest.”

He recalled Andrew’s visit to the Sea Cadets in Tonypandy, Rhondda Cynon Taf, when he was still a working member of the Royal Family, noting that the former prince insisted on arriving by helicopter, unlike his mother Queen Elizabeth II.

“They were absolutely delighted and excited to meet a member of the royal family,” Sir Chris said at the despatch box.

“But he insisted on coming by helicopter, unlike his mother, who came twice to the Rhondda and always came by car. He left early and he showed next to no interest in the young people.”

Sir Chris further stated he wished to “manage people’s expectations” regarding how swiftly the papers on Andrew could be released, citing the age and volume of the material alongside the ongoing police investigation.

He said: “It’s worth bearing in mind that the documents that might be envisaged in this are mostly 25 years old.

“Some of them are a bit earlier. They may be substantial in number and many of them will be in hard copy.”

The minister subsequently remarked: “I am slightly trying to manage people’s expectations about timeliness, partly because of the quantity of material, and because there is a live police investigation, and I just don’t want to jeopardise that.”

Despite being stripped of his title last year, the former Duke of York remains eighth in line to the throne, and an Act of Parliament would be necessary to permanently bar him from ever ascending to the crown.

Mr Bryant stated that the UK Government was “working at pace” to introduce legislation on succession “where we can”, amid mounting pressure for the King’s disgraced brother to be stripped of his right to the throne.