A senior UK lawmaker has demanded a parliamentary investigation into former Prince Andrew and ex-ambassador Peter Mandelson regarding their connections to convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein. Conservative MP Tom Tugendhat has called for a special committee composed of lawmakers, civilians, and retired judges to assess the nature of their relationships with Epstein and to consider whether existing laws adequately oversee the royal family.
In a statement to The Sun, Tugendhat expressed that this matter raises “urgent questions about foreign influence and national security.” He emphasized the importance of transparency, asking, “What did the Palace know? What did ministers know? What else is being hidden?” Tugendhat’s comments come in the wake of Prince Andrew, now known as Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor, being arrested by London police on allegations that he forwarded confidential documents to Epstein while serving as a UK trade envoy.
The implications of these accusations are severe, with Tugendhat suggesting that if proven true, they might warrant a review of treason laws that date back 700 years. He stated, “If the worst is proved, do we need to revisit treason laws written 700 years ago?”
King Charles III has given his full support to the ongoing police inquiry, stressing that “the law must take its course.” Should Andrew be convicted, he could face life in prison. Meanwhile, Mandelson, a prominent figure in the Labour Party and former UK ambassador to the United States, has not been arrested but faces scrutiny for allegedly leaking sensitive government documents to Epstein between 2009 and 2010. Tugendhat remarked, “If these accusations are true, they expose something rotten at the top of the State.”
The British government is also moving forward with legislation to permanently remove Andrew from the line of succession to the throne. Currently, the 66-year-old remains eighth in line, despite being stripped of his titles in October 2022. Should Parliament approve this move, it would require the approval of King Charles, marking the first time since 1936 that someone was removed from the line of succession through parliamentary action.
Both Andrew and Mandelson have denied any wrongdoing related to Epstein, whose name has surfaced repeatedly in a series of documents from the Justice Department. Tugendhat has insisted that regardless of the outcome, Parliament must send a clear message about protecting the nation from threats, even if those threats emerge from its highest ranks.
As this situation develops, the implications for the royal family and the British political landscape could be significant, raising questions about accountability and the standards expected of public figures.
