AMONG the three million pages of papers concerning the late sex offender Jeffrey Epstein released by the United States Department of Justice last week, there were several documents likely to embarrass the people named. Lord Mandelson, for example, appears to have accepted a substantial loan, which he has now forgotten about. He is also said to have leaked sensitive government information to Epstein when he was Gordon Brown’s Business Secretary. Investigations continue — but, as a first step, Lord Mandelson resigned from the Labour Party on Sunday night, on the grounds that he did not want to cause further embarrassment to the party. Another name that features prominently is that of Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor. The new documents provide evidence that appears to contradict his earlier claims about his friendship with the disgraced financier. They also include a photograph that appears to show him on all fours bending over an unnamed woman — a picture that is disconcerting, to say the least, though it is not in itself evidence of any criminal activity.
The former prince has repeatedly denied any wrongdoing. He denied the claims against him brought by Virginia Giuffre, although he paid her a substantial out-of-court settlement in 2022. He has made no comment on the recent revelations, and, given his track record, it seems highly unlikely that he will change his narrative. It may be that he does believe himself to be innocent of any wrongdoing. Unlike Lord Mandelson, he cannot resign his party membership. He has already been ejected from the family firm by the removal of his duties, and, finally, by being stripped of his titles by the King last autumn. There are suggestions that even one of his daughters has cut off contact. He presents a lonely and isolated figure, with little clear purpose in his life, now that the only job for which he was ever prepared is no longer open to him.
As things stand, Mr Mountbatten-Windsor’s reputation is thoroughly toxic. A recent YouGov poll suggested that only three to four per cent of British people held a positive opinion of him, and more than 90 per cent viewed him negatively. The most purposeful step that he could take now would be to accede to the many demands for him to testify before the US Congress over his dealings with Epstein, who is believed to have caused harm to as many as a thousand women and children. The Prime Minister gave his most vocal support yet to this call last weekend. “I have always said anybody who has got information should be prepared to share that information,” he told reporters. “You can’t be victim-centred if you’re not prepared to do that. Epstein’s victims have to be the first priority.” In October, Mr Mountbatten-Windsor said that he had always put his duty to his family and country first. If he chooses not to testify, it will be inferred that he is putting himself before his family, country, and — most importantly — the survivors of Epstein’s heinous abuse.
