Newly released documents suggest that Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor, the former Duke of York, may have passed confidential information to the late convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein while serving as a UK trade envoy between 2001 and 2011. This follows the release of new files relating to Jeffrey Epstein, including around three million pages, 180,000 images, and 2,000 videos, which were made public by the US Department of Justice on January 30.

Emails in the release appear to show Andrew providing Epstein with reports on his official visits to Singapore, Hong Kong, Shenzhen, and Vietnam in 2010 and 2011, as well as details on potential investment opportunities. This came after Epstein was first convicted in 2008 for soliciting a prostitute and procuring a child for prostitution, for which he was sentenced to 18 months in prison.

Trade envoys have a duty to maintain strict confidentiality regarding sensitive commercial or political information obtained during their official duties.

The documents include emails sent on October 7, 2010, in which Andrew allegedly informed Epstein of upcoming trips to Singapore, Vietnam, Shenzhen in China and Hong Kong, the BBC reported.

Following the visits, on November 30, he appears to have forwarded official reports prepared by his special assistant, Amit Patel, to Epstein just minutes after receiving them.

A screengrab of an email shows reports sent to Epstein's email address, with attachments covering Vietnam, Singapore, Hong Kong, and Shenzhen.

In a 2019 interview with BBC Newsnight, Andrew claimed he last saw Epstein in early December 2010 in New York to end their friendship.

However, the newly released files indicate that he emailed Epstein on Christmas Eve 2010 when Andrew sent Epstein a confidential briefing on investment opportunities in Helmand Province, Afghanistan, a project overseen by British forces and funded by the UK Government.

Sir Vince Cable, who was Business Secretary at the time, said: "I was unaware of Andrew... sharing information about investment opportunities [in Afghanistan] before; this is the first I've heard of it."

The confidentiality clause of the document that sets out the Terms of Appointment and Responsibilities for the Prime Minister's Trade Envoy programme and provides guidance for each Trade Envoy and their respective market/s, on their roles and responsibilities and the relationship to DBT and HMG reads: "Trade Envoys are not civil servants. However, the role of a Trade Envoy carries with it a duty of confidentiality in relation to information received.

"This may include sensitive, commercial, or political information shared about relevant markets/visits. This duty of confidentiality will continue to apply after the expiry of their term of office.

"In addition, the Official Secrets Acts 1911 and 1989 will apply. Trade Envoys are responsible for the protection of any documents they have been provided, which might contain sensitive data, and ensuring that they are carried, stored, and disposed of in an appropriate manner."

Andrew has consistently and strenuously denied any wrongdoing. Being named in the Epstein files is not a sign of wrongdoing.

Express.co.uk has contacted Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor for comment.