Prince Andrew is to defy his critics and fly to Saudi Arabia next month to lead an arms-selling mission to the repressive oil-rich state.
Despite the political convulsions sweeping the region and the furore surrounding his business interests, the prince is keen for the trip to go ahead.
Andrew has linked himself to Saudi defence interests in the past.
He was quoted in the Wikileaks cables attacking the “idiocy” of British authorities for holding a corruption inquiry which nearly scuppered a lucrative arms deal.
Plans for the visit come just weeks after David Cameron took eight arms dealers on a visit to the Middle East - at the same time as British tear gas and equipment was being used by Colonel Gaddafi to put down rebellions in Libya.
The revelation that the Duke of York is to follow in Mr Cameron’s footsteps caused anger last night - and added to the pressure on him to step down as special trade representative.
Prince Andrew has so far ignored calls to quit following disclosures about his links to US child sex offender Jeffrey Epstein, a Libyan gun smuggler and the family of the recently ousted despotic president of Tunisia.
His trip to Saudi Arabia has been arranged by UK Trade and Investment, the body he represents on overseas trips, and which has identified the strict Islamic state as one of the most attractive potential markets for British firms.
Although it refused, for security reasons, to confirm the trip is going ahead, it did say the Duke of York would be promoting arms deals if he did go to Saudi Arabia.
A spokesman said: “If he does go to the kingdom he will be supporting defence trade across the board. He will also be supporting a range of other sectors.
“Saudi Arabia is an important market. Fifty per cent of our defence exports go to the Middle East region, and Saudi Arabia is obviously an important player.”
Saudi Arabia has bought Typhoon aircraft from BAe Systems, and has a maintenance and support contract with the firm.
Prince Andrew has spoken out in defence of Saudi Arabia before.
According to the Wikileaks cables, he railed at the Serious Fraud Office and the “idiocy” that allowed it to almost scuttle an arms deal with the country.
Leaked cables from the US ambassador to the former Soviet republic of Kyrgyzstan, written in October 2008, said the prince “was referencing an investigation, subsequently closed, into alleged kickbacks a senior Saudi royal had received in exchange for multi-year, lucrative BAe Systems contract to provide equipment and training to Saudi security forces”.
A strong ally of the West, Saudi Arabia nevertheless has one of the most repressive regimes in the world.
Last week its rulers warned that it would not tolerate public demonstrations, leading to concerns that if its people rise up, British arms could be used against them.
Ruth Tanner, of War on Want, said: “Prince Andrew’s planned outing to Saudi Arabia could not be more shameful.
“As ordinary people are risking their lives in pursuit of democracy and human rights, Prince Andrew will visit the region to cosy up to repressive regimes and pave the way for arms companies to make a killing.”
Conservative MP John Baron, a member of the Commons foreign affairs committee, said: “Arms deals can be a very murky business and we have to think very carefully about asking a member of the Royal Family to tout for that sort of business.
“I worry about the risk that it could do to the Royal Family to undertake this sort of mission.
“There are plenty of other roles that Prince Andrew could take on.”
Last week Prince Harry cancelled a planned charity polo match in Dubai over concerns it would appear insensitive.
But Andrew has vowed not to cancel his trip to Saudi Arabia, understood to be scheduled for next month, although plans to visit Tunisia on the tour have been dropped.
The trip will be called off only if the wave of political instability which has already swept aside regimes in Egypt and Tunisia, and has sparked civil war in Libya, spreads to the Arabian peninsula.
Andrew has faced criticisms in recent days over his hospitality in Buckingham Palace for Sakher el-Materi, the son-in-law of deposed Tunisian leader Zein al-Abidine Ben Ali.
Alongside Saudi Arabia, the UKTI has identified Egypt, Kuwait and Qatar - all three of which were visited by Mr Cameron on his recent tour - as countries in the Middle East with the most scope for business deals.
A Buckingham Palace spokesman said: “We have not announced any overseas visits for the Duke of York and never comment on reports of plans for future visits.” - Daily Mail