In a November 2010 email from the US documents, seen by AFP, Mountbatten-Windsor appeared to share with the US financier reports on his visit to several Asian countries, among other communications about investment possibilities. 

Epstein had already been convicted in the United States in 2008 of child prostitution.

Official guidance is thought to stipulate that trade envoys have a duty of confidentiality over sensitive commercial or political information related to their official visits.

The ex-prince has repeatedly denied any wrongdoing.

But one of Epstein’s accusers, Virginia Giuffre, last year recounted in shocking detail in her posthumous memoir claims that she had been trafficked three times to have sex with Andrew, twice when she was 17.

The ex-prince settled a US civil lawsuit in 2022 brought by Giuffre, while not admitting liability.