Leading article: Undiplomatic

The news that the Duke of York may be standing down as our Special Representative for International Trade and Investment after 10 years in post will be greeted with sighs of relief at our embassies around the world.

Though not as gaffe-prone as his father, Prince Andrew showed a consistent lack of judgement in his remarks, behaviour and choice of friends. Though he was unpaid for his services, his lavish travelling expenses also came in for much criticism.

Royal foreign visits are of undoubted value to the country, as was proved by the recent North American tour of the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge. But today merely being royal is no longer a sufficient qualification to represent us abroad.