A newly revealed photograph captures the moment Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor and Peter Mandelson met for the first time, just weeks before they were photographed in bathrobes alongside convicted paedophile Jeffrey Epstein.
First meeting at NSPCC lunch
The image shows the then Duke of York and Mandelson at a National Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Children (NSPCC) lunch held at Buckingham Palace in 1999. The event was part of the NSPCC’s Full Stop Campaign, which aimed to change public attitudes toward child cruelty. According to reports, the pair enjoyed a meal of "plaice in a nice cream sauce" during the meeting.
Andrew served as chair of the Full Stop campaign, while Mandelson was vice-chair. At the time, Andrew’s daughters, Princess Beatrice and Princess Eugenie, were young children. Speaking to Hello! Magazine, Andrew said: "As a father of two young children, I simply could not sit back and do nothing… hopefully, in 20 years’ time, everyone will be able to pat themselves on the back."
Bathrobe photograph and controversy
Weeks after the NSPCC meeting, both men were pictured in bathrobes with Jeffrey Epstein, who was later convicted of procuring a child for prostitution and sex trafficking. The undated photograph was released as part of a US Department of Justice document dump earlier this year.
Since then, both Andrew and Mandelson have been arrested on suspicion of misconduct in public office. Both deny any wrongdoing and remain under investigation.
Former NSPCC fundraiser expresses regret
Giles Pegram, the former director of fundraising at the NSPCC who was responsible for the Full Stop campaign, told The Sun on Sunday that he regrets bringing the two men together. He said: "If I knew then what I know now, I wouldn’t have done it. If there was a scandal that was related to children, we wouldn’t have come within a mile of it… It’s horrible."
Pegram added: "If I’d known what I know now, he would never have been appointed chair. And there’d never have been a meeting with Mandelson… This is the benefit of hindsight." He called the appointments "absolutely unforgivable."
Political and institutional response
MPs recently voted down a Tory motion to refer Sir Keir Starmer to the Privileges Committee over whether he misled MPs regarding the Mandelson appointment. The NSPCC issued a statement saying: "The appalling revelations… have exposed a world of power, privilege, and wealth where vulnerable women and girls were ruthlessly targeted, exploited, trafficked and sexually abused."
The charity emphasised that Jeffrey Epstein was at the centre of this criminal web and that anyone else involved must be held to account. They added: "Our thoughts are with all the victims… They deserve justice and support as they have been ignored and dismissed for far too long."
