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7 March 2011
Last updated at 08:25 ET
David Cameron has offered his full support to the Duke of York in his role as a UK trade envoy despite a growing row over the prince's private life.
The prime minister's spokesman said there was no review of his post and Mr Cameron had "full confidence" in him.
No 10 sources earlier told the BBC Prince Andrew may have to step down if any more damaging revelations emerged.
The prince has been criticised over his friendship with convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein, an American financier.
Mr Cameron's official spokesman said: "We fully support Prince Andrew in his role as trade envoy. Our position is very clear. There is no review of his role."
He said the prime minister would not comment on unattributable briefings and he did not know where they came from.
Continue reading the main story “Start Quote
Earlier, Business Secretary Vince Cable said the Duke of York would have to judge his own position, although there would be "conversations" about his future role.
Ministers have defended the prince's work, adding that it is regularly reviewed.
"I think we need to remember he is doing this as a volunteer, he is not a government appointee, he is not somebody who is appointed and sacked," Mr Cable told the BBC.
"The assessment of the businesses I have seen that have worked with him is that he has been supportive and helpful.
"I think it is down to him to judge the position he wants to be in. Obviously there are conversations which will take place with him about what he's to do in future."
BBC political correspondent Gary O'Donoghue said a Downing Street source had conceded one more serious story could make the prince's role untenable.
Continue reading the main story Analysis
In public the cabinet has been supportive of Prince Andrew, paying tribute to the "valuable contribution" he has made to the British economy.
Business Secretary Vince Cable says he would not even have the power to fire the prince because he is a volunteer.
But behind the scenes, sources have briefed the papers that the role might be "downgraded" following one of the regular six-monthly reviews of how the job works.
And we are told that Prince Andrew met one of the prime minister's business advisers last week.
And therein lies the story: why is there a difference?
It is probably because the relationship between politicians and royals is a tricky, delicate dance where neither partner can step on the toes of the other in public.
A cabinet minister calling for the brother of the future king to stand down would be considered a step too far.
Our correspondent added that the prince was currently continuing in his job, but that the position was already reviewed on a regular basis.
One review took place last Tuesday when Prince Andrew met Sir Jon Cunliffe, the prime minister's chief adviser on Europe and overseas business.
The Downing Street source described the recent flurry of stories surrounding the Duke of York as the media trying to create "guilt by association" but added that one more serious story could change the situation overnight.
"It's unlikely the government would actually sack Prince Andrew but may choose in the long run gradually to downgrade his activities, avoiding a damaging and embarrassing row between ministers and the Royal Family," added our correspondent.
Prince Andrew has been the UK's Special Representative for International Trade and Investment since 2001, with the job of promoting Britain's business interests around the world.
His friendship with Mr Epstein, who was sentenced to 18 months in prison in 2008 for soliciting a minor for prostitution, has been the source of an increasing number of newspaper stories and media questions.
On Monday, while visiting the headquarters of London's new Crossrail in Canary Wharf, he refused to answer when BBC Newsnight reporter Michael Crick shouted: "Are you an embarrassment, sir?"
And the London Evening Standard quotes the Duchess of York admitting to a "gigantic error of judgement" for accepting £15,000 from Mr Epstein to help pay off her debts.
She strongly defended her former husband over the controversy surrounding his friendship with the financier, and said he "does not know how to tell an untruth or behave dishonourably".
Former Labour minister Ben Bradshaw criticised the government's handling of the row and the anonymous way Downing Street had commented on the story.
He told the BBC: "The prime minister should get a grip. It's simply unacceptable... for this drip-feed to be encouraged by Number 10 in these anonymous briefings while at the same time saying officially 'oh, he's secure in his position, there's nothing we can do'."
A spokesman for the UKTI, the government trade body, has said there is no suggestion at the moment that Prince Andrew's role is being downgraded.
Meanwhile Labour MP and former Foreign Office minister Chris Bryant has reiterated his view that Andrew should no longer be used as a UK trade ambassador.
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Vince Cable said Prince Andrew throws a lot of time and energy into his role as a UK trade envoy
"I am sure there are some countries in the world where having a visiting royal makes a difference, it makes it possible to have some meetings which wouldn't otherwise be possible," he told BBC Breakfast.
"But I am afraid he has now just become a national embarrassment. My worry is that, sometimes when he goes on these trips, I am not sure whether he is helping us out or he is just helping himself."
He added: "The truth is we shouldn't be using him for these delegations any more."
But royal historian Hugo Vickers said there had been "rather irresponsible" harassment of Andrew by the press.
"I actually really disapprove very strongly of people being hounded out of a job, if he is doing a good job, by this sort of press coverage," he said.
"I think if you actually examine the facts very carefully you will find that a lot of mud has been slung at him, some of it perhaps should have been, but... an awful lot of it shouldn't."
Foreign Secretary William Hague said on Sunday the prince had done "a lot of good for the UK" in his role as trade ambassador.
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The prime minister's spokesman said there was no review of his post and Mr Cameron had "full confidence" in him.
No 10 sources earlier told the BBC Prince Andrew may have to step down if any more damaging revelations emerged.
The prince has been criticised over his friendship with convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein, an American financier.
Mr Cameron's official spokesman said: "We fully support Prince Andrew in his role as trade envoy. Our position is very clear. There is no review of his role."
He said the prime minister would not comment on unattributable briefings and he did not know where they came from.
Continue reading the main story “Start Quote
I am afraid he has now just become a national embarrassment”
End Quote
Chris Bryant
Labour MP
Earlier, Business Secretary Vince Cable said the Duke of York would have to judge his own position, although there would be "conversations" about his future role.
Ministers have defended the prince's work, adding that it is regularly reviewed.
"I think we need to remember he is doing this as a volunteer, he is not a government appointee, he is not somebody who is appointed and sacked," Mr Cable told the BBC.
"The assessment of the businesses I have seen that have worked with him is that he has been supportive and helpful.
"I think it is down to him to judge the position he wants to be in. Obviously there are conversations which will take place with him about what he's to do in future."
BBC political correspondent Gary O'Donoghue said a Downing Street source had conceded one more serious story could make the prince's role untenable.
Continue reading the main story Analysis
In public the cabinet has been supportive of Prince Andrew, paying tribute to the "valuable contribution" he has made to the British economy.
Business Secretary Vince Cable says he would not even have the power to fire the prince because he is a volunteer.
But behind the scenes, sources have briefed the papers that the role might be "downgraded" following one of the regular six-monthly reviews of how the job works.
And we are told that Prince Andrew met one of the prime minister's business advisers last week.
And therein lies the story: why is there a difference?
It is probably because the relationship between politicians and royals is a tricky, delicate dance where neither partner can step on the toes of the other in public.
A cabinet minister calling for the brother of the future king to stand down would be considered a step too far.
Our correspondent added that the prince was currently continuing in his job, but that the position was already reviewed on a regular basis.
One review took place last Tuesday when Prince Andrew met Sir Jon Cunliffe, the prime minister's chief adviser on Europe and overseas business.
The Downing Street source described the recent flurry of stories surrounding the Duke of York as the media trying to create "guilt by association" but added that one more serious story could change the situation overnight.
"It's unlikely the government would actually sack Prince Andrew but may choose in the long run gradually to downgrade his activities, avoiding a damaging and embarrassing row between ministers and the Royal Family," added our correspondent.
Prince Andrew has been the UK's Special Representative for International Trade and Investment since 2001, with the job of promoting Britain's business interests around the world.
His friendship with Mr Epstein, who was sentenced to 18 months in prison in 2008 for soliciting a minor for prostitution, has been the source of an increasing number of newspaper stories and media questions.
On Monday, while visiting the headquarters of London's new Crossrail in Canary Wharf, he refused to answer when BBC Newsnight reporter Michael Crick shouted: "Are you an embarrassment, sir?"
And the London Evening Standard quotes the Duchess of York admitting to a "gigantic error of judgement" for accepting £15,000 from Mr Epstein to help pay off her debts.
She strongly defended her former husband over the controversy surrounding his friendship with the financier, and said he "does not know how to tell an untruth or behave dishonourably".
Former Labour minister Ben Bradshaw criticised the government's handling of the row and the anonymous way Downing Street had commented on the story.
He told the BBC: "The prime minister should get a grip. It's simply unacceptable... for this drip-feed to be encouraged by Number 10 in these anonymous briefings while at the same time saying officially 'oh, he's secure in his position, there's nothing we can do'."
A spokesman for the UKTI, the government trade body, has said there is no suggestion at the moment that Prince Andrew's role is being downgraded.
Meanwhile Labour MP and former Foreign Office minister Chris Bryant has reiterated his view that Andrew should no longer be used as a UK trade ambassador.
Please turn on JavaScript. Media requires JavaScript to play.Vince Cable said Prince Andrew throws a lot of time and energy into his role as a UK trade envoy
"I am sure there are some countries in the world where having a visiting royal makes a difference, it makes it possible to have some meetings which wouldn't otherwise be possible," he told BBC Breakfast.
"But I am afraid he has now just become a national embarrassment. My worry is that, sometimes when he goes on these trips, I am not sure whether he is helping us out or he is just helping himself."
He added: "The truth is we shouldn't be using him for these delegations any more."
But royal historian Hugo Vickers said there had been "rather irresponsible" harassment of Andrew by the press.
"I actually really disapprove very strongly of people being hounded out of a job, if he is doing a good job, by this sort of press coverage," he said.
"I think if you actually examine the facts very carefully you will find that a lot of mud has been slung at him, some of it perhaps should have been, but... an awful lot of it shouldn't."
Foreign Secretary William Hague said on Sunday the prince had done "a lot of good for the UK" in his role as trade ambassador.
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