The Cabinet Office has blamed an “administrative error” after historical royal documents relating to Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor were released by mistake.
A Downing Street file on royal visits, from 2004 and 2005, was briefly shared with journalists under embargo ahead of the annual release of government papers to the National Archives in Kew, west London, under the 20-year rule.
It included the minutes of a meeting discussing travel plans for the former prince, who was a trade envoy at the time.
However, the documents were withdrawn and the version sent to the archives for public viewing had these details and others about Andrew redacted.
Government records are released to the archives and made public after 20 years. However, files relating to the Royal Family are regularly withheld under the Public Records Act.
The Cabinet Office, which is responsible for transferring the files to the archives, said the royal documents had been handed to journalists unredacted due to an “administrative error”, as they had never been intended for release.
“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,” a spokesperson added.
The minutes of the travel meeting, which were seen by journalists for news outlets including the Press Association before they were pulled from the file, appeared to be unexceptional.
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Campaigners argue royal exemptions should not apply
Anti-monarchy campaigners say there is no reason for the documents to be withheld, especially as Andrew has been stripped of all his royal titles and honours over his links with 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,” said Graham Smith, chief executive of campaign group Republic.
The documents should be released “without fear or favour”, he added, “to allow the public to make informed judgments about the royals”.
Andrew has always denied any wrongdoing.
He was not the only royal discussed in the mistaken release – with minutes around potential travel plans for Prince William (now the Prince of Wales) also released.
What was in the other declassified documents?
Other papers released to the National Archives include documents on Zimbabwe, details of plans drawn up to redevelop Downing Street under Tony Blair, and an apology John Major had to make to the Queen Mother.
According to newly declassified files on Zimbabwe, the Foreign Office warned military action to overthrow Robert Mugabe was not a “serious option” amid frustration in Mr Blair’s government at the Zimbabwean dictator’s determination to cling to power, as the former British colony descended into violence and economic chaos.
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An options paper, drawn up in July 2004, was quick to rule out any use of military force. A year after the UK joined a US-led coalition to overthrow the Iraqi dictator Saddam Hussein, it said that this time Britain would be on its own if it tried to invade.
Details of the ambitious Downing Street programme were also declassified. The property had become so run down that the programme – codenamed Project George – was drawn up, proposing a major multi-million pound development including a two-storey “subterranean suite” under the No 10 garden and an underground service road for VIP visitors.
It is not clear from the files why the government did not procced with the plan – although cost may well have been an issue.
And the papers also revealed that Downing Street had to issue an apology when John Major was in power, when a birthday telegram he sent to the Queen Mother was apparently addressed in an “improper manner”.
The Queen Mother’s private secretary called No 10 demanding an explanation as to why the 1994 birthday greeting had been “incorrectly addressed”, documents show, although it is not clear exactly what caused the outrage.
