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To describe Prince Andrew as a member of the jet-set would be something of an understatement, as the well-travelled royal has broken his own record for overseas engagements.
The 44-year-old made a staggering 309 foreign visits in 2004, compared with 179 the previous year. And altogether he managed to notch up 581 appearances, meaning that only Princess Anne had a more hectic schedule. The Princess Royal's jam-packed appointment book saw her make 599 visits, though only 131 were overseas.
Most of Andrew's trips were made in his capacity as an official trade ambassador for Britain. Over the course of the last 12 months he has taken in such exotic destinations as Japan, Quatar, Oman, Russia and Bahrain.
His penchant for attending major sporting events – and enjoying the odd round of golf - has also earned him a reputation as a "playboy prince". But representatives for UK Trade and Investment, the governmental body in charge of promoting British industry, insist he is a very hard worker.
"He has never put a foot wrong in all the work he has done for us," said a spokesman. "He is a first-class diplomat. When he started in 2001 it was a steep learning curve, but he's brought management skills with him and he's learned very, very quickly." |
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