The Duke of York's attendance at the World Economic Forum next week could damage British interests abroad, a former minister has warned.
The Duke, who stood down as UK Trade Envoy in 2011,
will host a reception promoting British entrepreneurship at the conference in Davos, Switzerland, in an unofficial capacity.
However Norman Baker, a Liberal Democrat MP and former Home Office minister, said that Prince Andrew will still “be seen to be representing Britain”.
This will be the Duke’s first public appearance since allegations that he had sex with a 17-year-old emerged in US court papers earlier this month.
Asked if his visit, following the allegations, might damage British interests, Mr Baker said: "It potentially could do. "
While Mr Baker insisted that "a man is innocent until he his proven guilty", he added: "It may have been more prudent in these circumstances for him not to have gone. He may have taken that decision himself."