Prince Andrew hosted Tunisian dictator's son-in-law at palace

Prince Andrew hosted a lunch for Zine al-Abidine Ben Ali's son-in-law. Photograph: Tim Rooke /Rex Features

The government's special trade representative, Prince Andrew, entertained a leading member of the deposed Tunisian dictatorship at Buckingham Palace just three months before the regime collapsed, the Guardian has learned.Sakher el-Materi, the 29-year-old son-in-law of Tunisia's deposed presidentZine al-Abidine Ben Ali, attended a lunch given for him by the Duke of York. They were joined by more than a dozen executives from British multinationals hoping to win business in Tunisia. Materi has since fled the north African country and is under investigation for money laundering.

Via http://www.guardian.co.uk/uk/2011/mar/04/prince-andrew-tunisian-sakher-el-materi