Documentary reveals Prince Andrew shocked UK diplomats while on foreign trips

Prince Andrew stunned observers on foreign trips with his behaviour, with one ex senior staff member now revealing details that were previously covered up.

Prince Andrew stunned British officials with his behaviour when he was on trade missions that were covered up by diplomatic staff.

Simon Wilson was a diplomat with the UK’s Foreign Office and told ITV’s upcoming documentary The Real Crown feedback to the palace and government was always glowing because you couldn’t say a bad word about a member of the royal family.

“Behind the scenes it was a different matter,” Mr Wilson said.

He recalled one time when he was the deputy head of the British mission in Bahrain, and staff received a list of demands from the Duke of York before his arrival.

“We had a whole raft of things that came out in advance of his visit, his dislikes in terms of eating and stuff. He would only drink water, it had to be at room temperature, no ice,” the ex-diplomat said in the documentary, according to LBC.

“He always brought a large entourage with him, a private secretary, an equerry, a valet, a lady clerk and a business adviser.

Prince Andrew, Duke of York surprised British diplomats.

“We were shocked when a six-foot ironing board was trying to be negotiated into one of the embassy cars. I just could not believe that he was bringing an ironing board with him. I asked the valet and said, ‘This is insane.’ The valet’s reply was, ‘No one knows how to iron His Royal Highness’s trousers like me.’”

But it was his apparent lack of preparation that concerned diplomats the most - including a near refusal to make public remarks at events.

Mr Wilson claimed the embassy prepared a speech for the prince at an event with the British ambassador.

“The ambassador gave the opening remarks and then said, ‘Your Royal Highness, you say a few words.’ And Andrew refused to get up...Then he did get up, and he tapped the ambassador on the head two or three times and said, ‘This is the man who’ll tell you all about trade,’ and sat down. The whole room went totally silent.

Prince Andrew surprised onlookers by being right behind King Charles on the royal family’s walk to church on Easter Sunday.

“I thought initially, when he went off message at meetings, that it was an aberration, until I found that the same thing had happened at every mission – Oman, Kuwait, the United Arab Emirates, Doha, Qatar,” Mr Wilson said.

“The same behaviour. Obviously, throughout his life, he’s done his own thing, and was quite happy to continue in that vein, and he knew there would be no repercussions.”

Mr Wilson said the UK’s diplomats never passed any of it on to superiors.

“There’s no recourse as a member of the royal family, so no diplomat will write a critical letter. After every single visit a telegram would go back to the Foreign Office saying, ‘Everything has been wonderful, we’re all so grateful to His Royal Highness for another wonderful, successful visit,’” he recalled.

Prince Andrew with his brother Prince Edward at the funeral of their mum, Queen Elizabeth.

“Behind the scenes it was a different matter.”

Prince Andrew Prince Andrew ceased working as a royal amid sexual assault allegations by Virginia Roberts Giuffre, that he strongly denies.