In 2007, Prince Andrew was at the height of his powers and global reach. Carrying out hundreds of engagements a year in his role as UK trade ambassador, His Royal Highness The Duke of York regularly rubbed shoulders with leaders from Saudi Arabia, Qatar and the United Arab Emirates.

The position, which the then prince held from 2001-2011, was unpaid, but he had the support of civil servants and taxpayer funding for his overseas trips. Peter Mandelson, then trade secretary, had pushed for the prince to be appointed. Insiders believed Andrew’s royal status would gain him access to autocratic regimes and open doors otherwise closed to British businesses.

By October 2007 in an overcast west London, it was a rather less glamourous outing for the globetrotting prince. I was invited with a camera crew to follow Andrew on a visit around the headquarters of Innocent Smoothies, and to afterwards interview him at Buckingham Palace in order to showcase his role promoting British firms abroad.

The then-prince did a tour of the company’s office, which had a cutting-edge look at the time; all fake grass as carpet and wooden shed meeting rooms. As part of a long-running campaign the firm invited volunteers to knit little beanie hats for its juice bottles, with a percentage of profits going to charities supporting older people. All the stops were pushed out for the royal visit. Employees even presented the prince with a personalised gold-coloured bottle topped with a tiny beanie knitted in the red, blue and gold colours of his crest.

He was invited to meet representatives of the volunteers, two older ladies who could knit faster than the speed of light. A brief chat was followed by 86-year-old Margaret Keith from Hounslow presenting Andrew with a man-sized electric blue beanie for him to wear. He accepted with charm and an easy laugh. Mischievously, I suggested he try it on for the cameras, drawing stern glances of reproval........

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