Claims of cover-up after papers relating to former prince's travel costs pulled

The Cabinet Office has been accused of covering up for the royal family after the release of documents including some relating to travel expenses for the former Duke of York as UK trade envoy were withheld at the last minute.

- Caroline Davies Ben Quinn

Files released to the National Archives include documents relating to the death of Diana, Princess of Wales, and a grovelling apology from John Major’s office after an official birthday telegram to the Queen Mother was addressed in an “improper manner”.

But the documents, which are made available to the media in advance under embargo, also included No 10 minutes from 2004 and 2005 on royal visits. These were subsequently withdrawn, with the Cabinet Office blaming an “administrative error” as they had never been intended for release.

The minutes, seen by journalists before they were pulled, appear unremarkable and include a note that a change in rules could mean costs for the then Prince Andrew as a UK trade envoy would be funded by the Royal Travel Office - rather than the Department for Trade and Industry - adding £90,000 to its budget. Visits discussed were to China, Russia, southeast Asia and Spain.