In a separate email exchange in 2010, the former prince appeared to send Epstein a confidential briefing on investment opportunities in the reconstruction of Afghanistan.
At this time, those efforts were overseen by the British armed forces and were funded by the UK government.
Sir Vince Cable, who was then business secretary, said: “I was unaware of Andrew… sharing information about investment opportunities [in Afghanistan] before, this is the first I’ve heard of it.”
More than a year later, Andrew again appeared to reach out to Epstein to alert him to a new investment opportunity with a private equity firm he had visited a week earlier.
All of these email exchanges took place after 2008, when Epstein was convicted of child sex offences.
Official terms of reference for trade envoys state that they “are not civil servants”, adding: “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.”