The UK Cabinet Office has been accused of covering up for the Royal family after files concerning Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor were mysteriously removed from the National Archives.
Officials claim that their removal was an “administrative error” and said the documents were never meant for release.
Their disappearance has however raised eyebrows…
The Independent reports: The annual release of government papers to the archives in Kew, southwest London, under the 20-year rule includes a No 10 file from 2004 and 2005 on royal visits.
The version, originally made available to journalists under embargo so they could prepare stories in advance, included minutes of a meeting where officials discussed the travel plans of various royals – including the Duke of York as he was then.
However, the minutes were subsequently redacted from the file before it was made available to the public.
The annual release of government papers to the archives also revealed:
- MI5 blocked an appeal by Irish prime minister Bertie Ahern for the UK to share intelligence on any terrorist threat to the Sellafield nuclear facility
- Peter Mandelson warned Tony Blair not to allow Gordon Brown’s supporters to wreck Labour’s 2005 general election campaign from within
- Plans were drawn up under Mr Blair for a major redevelopment of Downing Street, including plans for an underground “safe-haven” area in the event of a terrorist attack
- Downing Street refused to release details of a conversation between Mr Blair and French president Jacques Chirac following the death in Paris of Diana, Princess of Wales
- No 10 had to issue a grovelling apology after prime minister John Major’s birthday telegram to the Queen Mother was addressed in an “improper manner”
The Cabinet Office, which is responsible for transferring the files to the National Archives, blamed an “administrative error” as they had never been intended for release.
A spokesperson said: “All records are managed in line with the requirements of the Public Records Act. Any release is subject to an extensive review process, including engaging expert stakeholders.”
However, Graham Smith, chief executive of anti-monarchy campaign group Republic, said there was no justification for withholding the documents, especially since Andrew has been stripped of his royal status amid continuing controversy over his links with the paedophile financier Jeffrey Epstein.
“There should be no royal exemption at all. But this exemption surely doesn’t apply to Andrew now he’s no longer a royal,” Mr Smith said.
“The most likely reason for this attempt to stop disclosure is pressure from the palace. The royals have sought to keep everything under wraps when it comes to Andrew, not to protect him but to protect themselves.
“The royals are one of the most secretive institutions in the UK. These documents should be released without fear or favour, to allow the public to make informed judgements about the royals.”
Meanwhile, Labour MP for York Central Rachael Maskell urged the government to provide clarity on why the files were not published.