A top diplomat who abruptly left his post at the British embassy in Washington earlier this week after serving as interim ambassador for Peter Mandelson has been honoured by King Charles. James Roscoe, who had been standing in for Mandelson, was made a lieutenant of the Royal Victorian Order (LVO) by the king on 30 April, an honour recognising distinguished personal service to the monarch.
Abrupt Departure and Investigation
No official reason has been given for Roscoe’s departure, which occurred earlier this week. An investigation is currently under way into the leak of discussions from a meeting of the UK’s national security council. Senior officials at the embassy are believed to have been questioned as part of the probe, following reports this year of cabinet divisions over allowing the US to use British bases for strikes against Iran. Those discussions are protected under the Official Secrets Act, and a leak from the national security council is considered a serious breach.
Honour Linked to State Visit
The honour bestowed upon Roscoe was connected to the recent state visit made by King Charles and Queen Camilla to the United States, which marked the 250th anniversary of American independence. On Wednesday, the Gazette, the official public record of royal appointments and honours, announced that the king had been “graciously pleased” to grant a series of appointments linked to last month’s royal trip. Roscoe, a former chief press officer in Downing Street for Tony Blair and Gordon Brown, is now entitled to use the letters LVO after his name.
Roscoe, whose earlier diplomatic postings included Sierra Leone and Iraq, stepped in as interim ambassador after Mandelson was sacked over his links to convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein. He was among those tipped to take up the top job permanently, but the posting ultimately went to another diplomat, Christian Turner.
Official Statements
In a brief statement issued early on Wednesday morning, a Foreign Office spokesperson said: “James Roscoe has left his post.” Buckingham Palace declined to comment on Roscoe’s award but noted that while published on Wednesday, the honours were made last month. There is a precedent for recognising staff involved in planning state visits.
