Prince knows what buttons to push

Prince Andrew is very straight and very personable. He once opened one of our exhibitions for foreign investors and at the ribbon-cutting ceremony he said "it's not very busy is it?".

I replied "Well we had to clear the place for security reasons because you are here, sir," and he just roared with laughter. He is good with people and he's got a great sense of humour. He mixes with everyone working on the frontline and knows what buttons to push. Without a doubt the Duke of York is a great ambassador for British business. All the exporters support him 110 per cent.

You've got to look at the bottom line and what he's doing for the country. He traipses around to exhibition after exhibition, and always takes a great interest. I don't think the general public realise just how hard Prince Andrew works at banging the drum for British business. He thinks nothing of getting up at 6am to network on the golf course before official meetings start at breakfast. Without him, many doors would remain closed. He is not at all stuck up and has a wide knowledge of industries.

Prince Andrew has been doing this for 11 years for no money and that's a long time to give up a salary. It's an unpaid job - although they say his travel expenses are incredible. But in all honesty I think we get good value for money.

Our royal family travels all over the world and it's very important for Britain. Fair enough he's got some dubious friends, but haven't we all.