The Duchess of York and the Dubai royal household provided to assist ministers safe PPE within the early months of the COVID-19 disaster, the inquiry into the pandemic has heard.
Sarah Ferguson, who was previously married to Prince Andrew, made her provide of help as officers tried to pay money for private protecting tools similar to gloves and aprons in spring 2020.
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The message, which was despatched amongst her colleagues, stated: “The Duchess of York has been in contact with [government PPE adviser] Lord Deighton to try and help source PPE.
“She has some contacts who’ve entry to PPE in China and desires to have the ability to get these by way of the system.”
Ms Matthias stated the provide had come to officers by way of former minister Michael Gove and Conservative peer Lord Agnew.
“Not specifically, no,” she replied.
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Requested whether or not a crew member was tasked with dealing with referrals particularly from high-profile folks, Ms Matthias stated: “From memory and from my understanding, royalty was sensitively handled by very senior people.”
She added: “I don’t recall it ever being an issue and don’t recall it ever being widely discussed or ever receiving any direction that if I for example was directly approached by the Duchess of York for example I was forbidden to deal with that or not.”
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Particulars of the sudden provides got here because the inquiry continued to listen to proof in its fifth module, referring to procurement.
Thursday’s proof regarded on the so-called high-priority lane which was used to attempt to safe contracts shortly.
The inquiry was established to look at the UK’s response to and impression of the COVID-19 pandemic and to study classes for the long run.
The primary a part of the day’s proof was heard in a personal session to keep away from prejudicing an ongoing investigation into PPE Medpro, a agency linked to Baroness Michelle Mone and her accomplice Doug Barrowman.
