First Known Photograph of Prince Andrew, Peter Mandelson and Jeffrey Epstein Together
A bombshell photograph has emerged from the recently released Epstein files, showing Prince Andrew, Peter Mandelson, and the late financier Jeffrey Epstein together for the first time. The image, part of hundreds of thousands of documents disclosed by the US Department of Justice, depicts the three men seated around a wooden table with mugs featuring the stars and stripes flag.
In the photograph, Prince Andrew and Peter Mandelson are both seen wearing white bathrobes, while Epstein appears in a shirt and jumper. Although both Andrew and Mandelson were previously known to have associations with Epstein, this marks the first visual evidence of the trio together.
Context and Details of the Photograph
The exact date and location of the photograph remain unclear. However, another image from the files, titled "Epstein birthday book," shows Mandelson in a similar white robe, suggesting a possible connection or event. The release of this photograph coincides with mounting pressure on Mandelson to repay a £75,000 settlement he received after being dismissed as US ambassador last autumn.
Ministers have publicly urged the disgraced former peer to return the money, which he accepted after initially seeking a £500,000 payout. Scottish Secretary Douglas Alexander, speaking to journalists in Paisley, stated, "Firstly in terms of should he pay the money back, yes I would urge him to do so. Whether that’s to charities or to others working in the area of the exploitation of women."
He emphasised the need to prioritise the victims of Epstein's crimes, noting, "We need to recognise that the primary victims in this instance and the people who are most betrayed were the victims of Jeffrey Epstein’s crimes."
Mandelson's Controversial Actions and Communications
The Epstein files have revealed further troubling details about Mandelson's conduct. In 2008, while serving in Gordon Brown's cabinet, he allegedly leaked a high-level Downing Street memo to Epstein. This document contained sensitive information on £20 billion in proposed state asset sales and confidential tax policies.
Later that same year, after Epstein was convicted of soliciting prostitution but before sentencing, Mandelson appeared to write to him, offering support. In the message, he said, "You have to be incredibly resilient, fight for early release and be philosophical about it as much as you can. The whole thing has been years of torture and now you have to show the world how big a person you are, and how strong. I think the world of you..."
In 2010, during the Eurozone debt crisis, Mandelson is also accused of providing Epstein with advance notice of a highly sensitive €500 billion European Union bailout package designed to stabilise the Euro.
Legislative Response and Potential Peerage Removal
In response to these revelations, Downing Street has indicated that new legislation to strip Lord Peter Mandelson of his title could be expanded to include any peer who has violated rules. Prime Minister Keir Starmer’s spokesman explained, "The Prime Minister has asked officials to draft legislation which allows Peter Mandelson’s peerage to be removed as quickly as possible."
The spokesman added, "The Government’s preference is to bring forward legislation that could be applied to any peer who has breached the rules and brought the other place into disrepute, rather than Mandelson specifically. We have begun the work of looking at the scope and ability for such a Bill to be introduced."
Highlighting the historical significance, the spokesman noted, "But a Bill of that nature has not been brought before Parliament since 1478, so we are working on that, and we are liaising with the House authorities to ensure that we get this right."
