Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor made plans for a personal rebrand and to start his own conservation non-profit just months before he was forced out of royal duties, it has been reported.
According to leaked emails seen by The Daily Telegraph, the former Prince, 66, wanted âa legacyâ and to âtake up the mantle of conservationâ from his brother when he became the King.
The correspondence is said to detail plans for a non-profit called The Royal Conservancy, which was being drawn up just months before the former Dukeâs BBC Newsnight interview and the second arrest of his former friend and convicted sex offender, Jeffrey Epstein.
The emails reportedly suggested that potential backers from Europe, the Middle East and the US meet at Buckingham Palace in 2019 to draw up a three-year business plan.
However, the alleged correspondence revealed that the venture failed due to a lack of funding and not having sign-off from the Cabinet Office.
Andrew latest
News of the leaked emails comes just hours after it was revealed that the former Prince has been urged to surrender one of his final remaining honours.
Elected members of the City of London Corporation have agreed to write to the former Duke of York, inviting him to relinquish his freedom of the city.
© GettyAndrew received the honour in 2012, but due to a legal loophole, it has not been removed before now. Â
In a statement released on Thursday, a spokesperson said: âAndrew Mountbatten-Windsor received the freedom of the City of London in 2012 by virtue of patrimony, which is inherited as the child of a freeman and constitutes a legal right.
âApplications via patrimony are not considered or endorsed by our elected members, and there is no effective legal mechanism to remove this type of freedom.
âElected members have today agreed to write to Mr Mountbatten-Windsor, inviting him to formally relinquish the freedom. They will consider the response received, if any, at a future meeting and determine what action may be taken.â
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