A pair of leather flying gloves worn by Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor during the Falklands War failed to attract a single bid at auction, with the auctioneer saying the disgraced former prince is now 'too hot to handle' for the market.
The pale leather gloves, signed and still caked in dirt from helicopter operations more than 40 years ago, had been valued at between £1,000 and £2,000 by Reeman Dansie in Colchester, Essex. But they did not reach their undisclosed reserve, and auctioneer James Grinter confirmed there was 'no interest and no bids'.
“Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor's Falklands flying gloves failed to attract a single bid at auction amid ongoing police investigation.”
The gloves were donated by Mountbatten-Windsor to a charity sale after the 1982 conflict, where he served as a Sea King helicopter co-pilot with 820 Naval Air Squadron aboard HMS Invincible. The original buyer had held them for more than four decades.
Grinter believes the gloves would have sold for a hefty sum were it not for the numerous allegations of misconduct now engulfing the former duke. 'Andrew was at the height of his popularity during the Falklands War and very highly regarded at the time,' he said. 'It would have been inconceivable then that he would be disgraced for his subsequent behaviour.'
In stark contrast, a letter written by Princess Diana a week after her famous Panorama interview fetched £5,330 at the same sale.
Mountbatten-Windsor, 66, was arrested on his birthday in February by Thames Valley Police on suspicion of misconduct in public office. The arrest followed allegations that he handed confidential information to convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein while serving as the UK's trade envoy in the early 2000s. In May, police widened the investigation to examine 'a number of aspects of alleged misconduct', including sexual wrongdoing and corruption. Mountbatten-Windsor vehemently denies any wrongdoing.
The former prince acted as the UK's special representative for international trade and investment until 2011. A memo from then-chief executive of British Trade International Sir David Wright to foreign secretary Robin Cook revealed that Queen Elizabeth II had been 'very keen' for her son to take on a 'prominent role in the promotion of national interests' as trade envoy.
Mountbatten-Windsor denies any personal gain from the role. After his royal status was revoked last year, his name was removed from plaques in the Falkland Islands.
'I think he is too hot to handle for the market at the moment,' Grinter said.