Palace talks at unease as Mandelson decision shadows King and Starmer meeting.
King Charles wasn’t sold on the ambassador pick and he had his own questions.
King Charles is said to have added a pointed line alongside the paperwork, asking: “Is this really the right call?”
Not once, but twice, Buckingham Palace signalled unease over sending Peter Mandelson to Washington.
The issue also came up during the monarch’s regular audience with Keir Starmer, bringing an undercurrent of tension to what should have been a routine diplomatic appointment.
The Foreign Office’s CV painted an impressive picture but skipped over Mandelson’s past resignations and his links to Jeffrey Epstein, details that have continued to shadow his public life.
The appointment, confirmed in December 2024, quickly became a political problem.
By September the following year, Starmer had pulled the plug, removing Mandelson from the role after scrutiny surrounding those connections resurfaced.
It marked a familiar pattern for the New Labour heavyweight and a third exit following two earlier departures from government during Tony Blair’s era.
Downing Street has promised a wider release of documents tied to the appointment, with one batch already out and more expected soon.
However, not everything will see the light of day. Some material could remain hidden due to an ongoing police investigation, while other details may be withheld to avoid disrupting diplomatic ties.
Mandelson said he will fully cooperate and is determined to clear his name.
