Lord Peter Mandelson will play a full role in President Donald Trump’s upcoming state visit to the United Kingdom next week, Downing Street said Thursday, rejecting suggestions that he should be asked to stay away amid questions about his past association with Jeffrey Epstein.
The prime minister’s official spokesman said the government’s ambassador "will obviously be represented at the state visit, as you would expect," and dismissed calls to exclude him to avoid embarrassment to ministers or the Royal Family. The two-day visit will see the King host a state dinner at Windsor Castle and formal engagements at Buckingham Palace.
Whitehall sources said Lord Mandelson has been centrally involved in coordinating arrangements with the White House and the palace and is expected to attend the state dinner. He is also reported to be in the room for private political discussions between Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer and President Trump, after holding talks with Sir Keir at Downing Street last week to finalise the summit details and brief the prime minister on issues Mr. Trump is likely to raise.
Officials said Lord Mandelson has also provided guidance to the White House on ceremonial aspects of the visit, including the history and protocol associated with Windsor Castle. Downing Street described his role as part of the routine planning and diplomatic work that precedes a head-of-state visit.
The announcement comes as questions about Lord Mandelson’s past association with Jeffrey Epstein have intensified in some media outlets and among critics, prompting renewed calls for him to step down. Sir Keir mounted a robust defence of the peer on Thursday, praising his effectiveness since his appointment in February and saying he was "playing an important role in the UK‑US relationship." The prime minister’s remarks echoed Downing Street’s position that the ambassador should continue his duties ahead of the White House visit.
Opponents and commentators who have urged Lord Mandelson to resign said his presence during high-profile ceremonial events could prove politically sensitive for the government and the monarchy. Downing Street and palace officials, however, indicated there had been no request for him to be excluded from ceremonial or political elements of the visit.
The state visit is expected to include bilateral talks between Mr. Trump and Sir Keir, a banquet at Windsor and a series of ceremonial engagements intended to underscore the long-standing diplomatic relationship between the United States and the United Kingdom. Organisers have sought to finalise both the substantive agenda and the ceremonial programme in the days before the trip, officials said.
No immediate comment was available from the White House about Lord Mandelson’s role during the visit. The government’s public defence of his participation closes off, for now, the prospect of asking a senior official involved in planning to step back, even as media scrutiny and political pressure continue to build.