A previously unseen photograph has emerged showing Prince Andrew and Peter Mandelson in bathrobes alongside convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein. The trio are pictured sitting at a wooden table with mugs decorated with the American flag, in an image believed to have been taken on Martha’s Vineyard, Massachusetts.
The photograph, uncovered by ITV News, was part of millions of Epstein-related files released by the US Department of Justice earlier this year. No date or location was specified, but a similar picture of Mandelson appeared in Epstein’s 50th birthday book from 2003, where Mandelson called Epstein “my best pal”.
Mandelson, the former UK ambassador to the US, described Epstein as an “intelligent sharp-witted man” in a handwritten note in that book. Both Mandelson and Prince Andrew feature multiple times in the Epstein files, including images of Andrew bent over an unidentified female and lying across women’s laps, and photos of Mandelson in his underwear receiving a foot massage.
There is no suggestion that appearing in the documents implies any wrongdoing. However, both men have faced consequences over their ties to Epstein. Prince Andrew was stripped of his titles and arrested last month on suspicion of misconduct in public office. Mandelson was sacked as ambassador and resigned from the House of Lords; he was also arrested last month on similar suspicion. Both have denied wrongdoing and been released under investigation.
Prime Minister Keir Starmer faced scrutiny over appointing Mandelson as ambassador. He apologised on Thursday for the handling of the appointment. On Friday, the PM’s independent ethics adviser, Laurie Magnus, said there were no grounds to investigate whether Starmer breached the ministerial code.
