Keir Starmer is under fresh pressure over his appointment of Peter Mandelson as Britain’s US ambassador after it was revealed King Charles warned against the move.
His Majesty is reported to have penned two notes raising his concerns about naming the controversial peer as the UK’s top diplomat in Washington DC.
It has led to questions about whether any correspondence between the King and ministers over Lord Mandelson’s appointment will be released in the coming weeks.
The Prime Minister has committed to publishing a wide range of documents connected to the peer’s appointment, with the first batch of files released last month.
Another tranche of papers is due to be released, although some material is expected to be withheld.
This is either because it relates to a police investigation into Lord Mandelson, or because it could jeopardise national security or diplomatic relations.
The King is said to have attached an accompanying note when asked to officially sign off on Lord Mandelson’s appointment, as he is constitutionally obliged to do.
Private Eye reported the note asked a question along the lines of: ‘Do you really think that’s wise?’
The publication said a second Buckingham Palace note also raised the King’s concerns about Lord Mandelson being given the high-profile role, while Charles and Sir Keir discussed the appointment during their weekly audience.
Lord Mandelson was named as US ambassador in December 2024, but Sir Keir was forced to sack him in September last year following further revelations about his friendship with paedophile Jeffrey Epstein.
It was the third time the New Labour architect had been sacked from a Government role, having twice left Tony Blair’s Cabinet amid scandals.
The report also detailed how, when the King received the Foreign Office’s formal letter seeking his approval for Lord Mandelson’s appointment, he is said to have been ‘surprised’ that a ‘flattering’ CV made no mention of his previous resignations from Government or his links to Epstein.
This letter was published as part of the first tranche of Mandelson files last month.
Prosecutors are ‘providing early investigative advice’ to the police as they carry out their inquiries into Lord Mandelson and Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor’s links to Epstein, the Crown Prosecution Service said on Wednesday.
The former duke of York and Lord Mandelson were arrested last month on suspicion of misconduct in public office over their connections with the paedophile financier.
They have since been released under investigation.
Lord Mandelson has vowed to cooperate with the police investigation and ‘to clear his name’.
He has denied the release of documents about Epstein in the US show he broke any laws or acted for personal gain and repeatedly said he regrets his friendship with Epstein.
Mr Mountbatten-Windsor has denied any wrongdoing over his Epstein links.
Downing Street, the Cabinet Office and Buckingham Palace have all been contacted for comment.
