UK's Nato Ambassador Faces Scrutiny Over Relationship with Italian Intern
Britain's ambassador to Nato has reportedly left the diplomatic community astonished by moving an Italian intern into his official residence in Brussels. Senior figures have expressed serious concerns that Angus Lapsley, a 55-year-old father of two, is now dating his 29-year-old assistant Francesca Cortini.
An Open Secret Among Diplomats
The pair are understood to have met approximately two years ago while Cortini was gaining experience at Nato headquarters. This occurred not long after Lapsley narrowly avoided dismissal for leaving 50 pages of top-secret documents at a bus stop in Kent. Their romantic involvement has now become what sources describe as an open secret within diplomatic circles.
It is believed the couple may be living together at the plush British residence in Brussels, a five-storey former hotel that Lapsley is entitled to use alongside two colleagues. The envoy reportedly withdrew from a scheduled meeting at Nato headquarters on Wednesday after both he and the Foreign Office became aware that details of his relationship were about to become public knowledge.
Senior Figures Express Disapproval
The romance has been deemed sufficiently concerning that it has reportedly been brought to the attention of Admiral Sir Keith Blount, the most senior British officer serving within Nato. Dame Caroline Wilson, the United Kingdom's soon-to-be ambassador to the European Union, has stated unequivocally that it is inappropriate for the couple to be cohabiting at the idyllic townhouse in the Belgian capital.
However, following a review, Nato has determined that Lapsley and Cortini's controversial relationship does not breach any existing organizational guidelines. An official spokesperson clarified: 'Nato requires all managers to declare any real or perceived conflict of interest. This policy is long-standing and has not been changed in recent years.'
Unlike protocols within the British military, Nato does not consider romantic relations within the chain of command to be a sackable offence. This distinction was highlighted last year when former First Sea Lord of the Royal Navy Sir Ben Key was dismissed and stripped of his Admiral rank for having an affair with a subordinate.
Political Reactions and Past Controversies
The discussion surrounding Lapsley's personal life reached high-level political forums in Brussels. Defence Secretary John Healey addressed the matter during a Nato briefing, stating: 'The United Kingdom expects the highest standards of its ambassadors for this country. My focus today has been to work with allies to demonstrate we can step up to support Ukraine.'
Sources indicate that Lapsley made his superiors aware of the romance, which began after he separated from his wife Gina. The diplomat was appointed as the UK's ambassador to Nato only in April of last year, less than four years after facing investigation for a significant security breach.
Previous Security Lapse
In 2021, while serving as director-general for strategy and international at the Ministry of Defence, Lapsley left approximately 50 pages of confidential documents at a bus stop in Kent. These files contained secret locations of British special forces soldiers in Afghanistan. A source revealed the documents had fallen from his bag as he rushed from Canterbury to work, and were later found wet and piled up by a member of the public.
The security mishap provoked a furious reaction from senior American officials, who feared it could have endangered their troops in South Asia. Lapsley's security clearance was temporarily suspended following the incident but was reinstated after an investigation concluded. He was subsequently appointed to a planning role before eventually succeeding Sir David Quarrey as the UK's Nato ambassador.
A Foreign Office spokesman declined to comment on the current situation, stating: 'It is long-standing policy not to comment on personnel matters.' The developing story continues to raise questions about diplomatic propriety and the management of personal relationships within international organizations.
