A previously unseen photograph showing Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor and Peter Mandelson in bathrobes alongside Jeffrey Epstein has been uncovered, marking the first known image of the pair together with the disgraced financier.
The photograph, believed to have been taken on Martha's Vineyard, shows the trio relaxing outside at a wooden table with mugs decorated with the American flag. It was discovered by ITV News among the millions of Epstein-related files released by the US Department of Justice earlier this year, although no date or location was provided.
A similar image of Mandelson appeared in Epstein's 50th birthday book from 2003, in which Mandelson described Epstein as "my best pal" and called him an "intelligent sharp-witted man" in a handwritten note. Mandelson and Mountbatten-Windsor appear multiple times in the Epstein files, but there is no suggestion that featuring in the documents implies any wrongdoing.
Both men have faced significant fallout over their associations with Epstein. Mountbatten-Windsor was stripped of his titles and removed from his Windsor residence, and was arrested last month on suspicion of misconduct in public office over allegations he shared confidential material while serving as trade envoy. Mandelson was dismissed as UK ambassador to Washington and resigned from the House of Lords, and was also arrested last month over claims he leaked sensitive information to Epstein while business secretary. Both deny any wrongdoing and have been released under investigation.
The controversy has also reached Prime Minister Keir Starmer, who apologised again for appointing Mandelson as ambassador, saying: "It was me that made a mistake, and it's me that makes the apology to the victims of [Jeffrey] Epstein." However, Laurie Magnus, the PM's independent adviser on ethics, said on Friday there were no grounds to investigate whether Starmer breached the ministerial code, noting that documentation showed the relevant process for a political appointee was followed.
