Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor once disclosed the unexpected career path he wished he had followed instead of royal life, according to an author who joined him on an international trade mission. Writing in her book Divide and Rule, Catherine Mayer described accompanying Andrew on a trade mission to China, revealing she was the only journalist ever allowed to participate in one of his official business visits.

The author portrayed a royal she felt was frequently detached from ordinary realities. She said: "A few months earlier I had accompanied Andrew on one of his trade missions, the only journalist ever to do so. Royals are often disconnected from everyday realities, but the gaps in Andrew's understanding of the world yawned startlingly wide." Recounting one episode during the trip, she wrote: "On another occasion, he demanded to know why I was barefoot."

Catherine clarified that she had misplaced a shoe while trying to board a moving vehicle after a royal convoy set off. She said: "He had apparently never noticed that his convoys set off as soon as he was seated, leaving anyone travelling at the back of the column to fling themselves at moving vehicles. I had lost a shoe in the process. He told me, for decorum, to wear the remaining one."

According to Catherine, Andrew's presence helped bring together British business leaders and Chinese officials at several formal engagements.

However, she suggested that many within royal circles questioned whether he was suited to his role as a trade envoy.

She said: "Any benefits to the UK came with a hefty price tag: intensive preparations, transport and accommodation for Andrew and his entourage, and four royal protection officers for the duration."

The most notable moment came during a private exchange in China, when Andrew reportedly said he would have preferred to pursue a practical trade rather than life as a royal representative.

She explained: "One afternoon in China, he confided to me that he wished he could have been a plumber."

The disclosure has resurfaced as Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor’s life has undergone significant changes in recent years.

In November 2025, the man formerly known as Prince Andrew officially lost his royal titles and the right to use the style His Royal Highness. Since then, he has reportedly lived largely out of the public spotlight, initially at Royal Lodge in Windsor before relocating to Marsh Farm on the Sandringham Estate in Norfolk in April.

Royal biographer Andrew Lownie, whose book Entitled examined Andrew’s life and controversies, believes he has struggled to find a sense of purpose since stepping away from public duties. Speaking on the Palace Confidential podcast, Lownie said: "I think he's someone who needs a discipline. I think the services were good for him. There was a focus there and and a discipline."

He suggested that without the structure formerly provided by military and royal responsibilities, Andrew had been left without a defined sense of direction.

Lownie added that Andrew had become increasingly interested in technology and video games, claiming he now spends a considerable amount of time using flight simulators.