Newslinks for Friday 20th February 2026
Every delay has consequences.
Andrew arrested – and it’s revealed Mandelson pushed for him to be trade envoy against King’s wishes
“Lord Mandelson helped secure the job of UK trade envoy for Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor against the wishes of the King. The then Prince Charles expressed concerns about his brother’s suitability for the role, but the late Queen Elizabeth II overruled him with backing from the former trade secretary. Mr Mountbatten-Windsor succeeded the Duke of Kent, his second cousin, as special representative for international trade and investment in 2001. The move was highly controversial because the former prince already had a reputation for using his status to travel the world playing golf and was considered an unreliable playboy by many critics. One newspaper headline at the time described the appointment as “another royal accident waiting to happen”. Lord Mandelson, though, intervened, saying the then duke was “well qualified” for the role. The two men knew each other by then, having both worked on an NSPCC campaign. Both of them also knew Ghislaine Maxwell and were friends with Evelyn de Rothschild, the City financier, and his wife Lynn, who in turn were friends with Epstein. Maxwell, who is serving a jail sentence for child sex trafficking for Epstein, was photographed with Mr Mountbatten-Windsor at a “hookers and pimps” Halloween party in New York before he was given the trade role. She was also friends with Lord Mandelson, who had worked as a consultant for her father Robert, the one time owner of the Daily Mirror.” – Daily Telegraph
Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor arrested for misconduct in public office – The Times
Andrew’s top aide struck secret deal with Chinese state – Daily Telegraph
Former PM Gordon Brown submits ‘new and additional info’ to police – Sky News
Police search of Royal Lodge continues as Andrew released under investigation – The Guardian
Comment:
Whatever the outcome of Andrew’s arrest, the whole monarchy is in the dock – and British people are both judge and jury – Julia Hartley-Brewer, The Sun
As Andrew sits alone in a police cell, Charles and William will be secretly relieved – Jennie Bond, The i
A grave threat that the Monarchy must survive – Daily Mail Comment
Wider wall of royal secrecy must come down in wake of Andrew arrest – The Times View
> Yesterday:
Jake Waterfield: A Conservative case for cleaning up the House of Lords in the wake of Mandelson
Starmer’s Chagos deal in crisis
“A dramatic late intervention by a judge has thrown Sir Keir Starmer’s beleaguered plans to hand over the Chagos Islands to Mauritius further into chaos. Justice James Lewis ruled from a flight at around 25,000ft in the air on Thursday to temporarily block an order removing the islanders, who had landed earlier this week. The decision adds to the …
Every delay has consequences.
Andrew arrested – and it’s revealed Mandelson pushed for him to be trade envoy against King’s wishes
“Lord Mandelson helped secure the job of UK trade envoy for Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor against the wishes of the King. The then Prince Charles expressed concerns about his brother’s suitability for the role, but the late Queen Elizabeth II overruled him with backing from the former trade secretary. Mr Mountbatten-Windsor succeeded the Duke of Kent, his second cousin, as special representative for international trade and investment in 2001. The move was highly controversial because the former prince already had a reputation for using his status to travel the world playing golf and was considered an unreliable playboy by many critics. One newspaper headline at the time described the appointment as “another royal accident waiting to happen”. Lord Mandelson, though, intervened, saying the then duke was “well qualified” for the role. The two men knew each other by then, having both worked on an NSPCC campaign. Both of them also knew Ghislaine Maxwell and were friends with Evelyn de Rothschild, the City financier, and his wife Lynn, who in turn were friends with Epstein. Maxwell, who is serving a jail sentence for child sex trafficking for Epstein, was photographed with Mr Mountbatten-Windsor at a “hookers and pimps” Halloween party in New York before he was given the trade role. She was also friends with Lord Mandelson, who had worked as a consultant for her father Robert, the one time owner of the Daily Mirror.” – Daily Telegraph
Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor arrested for misconduct in public office – The Times
Andrew’s top aide struck secret deal with Chinese state – Daily Telegraph
Former PM Gordon Brown submits ‘new and additional info’ to police – Sky News
Police search of Royal Lodge continues as Andrew released under investigation – The Guardian
Comment:
Whatever the outcome of Andrew’s arrest, the whole monarchy is in the dock – and British people are both judge and jury – Julia Hartley-Brewer, The Sun
As Andrew sits alone in a police cell, Charles and William will be secretly relieved – Jennie Bond, The i
A grave threat that the Monarchy must survive – Daily Mail Comment
Wider wall of royal secrecy must come down in wake of Andrew arrest – The Times View
> Yesterday:
Jake Waterfield: A Conservative case for cleaning up the House of Lords in the wake of Mandelson
Starmer’s Chagos deal in crisis
“A dramatic late intervention by a judge has thrown Sir Keir Starmer’s beleaguered plans to hand over the Chagos Islands to Mauritius further into chaos. Justice James Lewis ruled from a flight at around 25,000ft in the air on Thursday to temporarily block an order removing the islanders, who had landed earlier this week. The decision adds to the …
Newslinks for Friday 20th February 2026
Every delay has consequences.
Andrew arrested – and it’s revealed Mandelson pushed for him to be trade envoy against King’s wishes
“Lord Mandelson helped secure the job of UK trade envoy for Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor against the wishes of the King. The then Prince Charles expressed concerns about his brother’s suitability for the role, but the late Queen Elizabeth II overruled him with backing from the former trade secretary. Mr Mountbatten-Windsor succeeded the Duke of Kent, his second cousin, as special representative for international trade and investment in 2001. The move was highly controversial because the former prince already had a reputation for using his status to travel the world playing golf and was considered an unreliable playboy by many critics. One newspaper headline at the time described the appointment as “another royal accident waiting to happen”. Lord Mandelson, though, intervened, saying the then duke was “well qualified” for the role. The two men knew each other by then, having both worked on an NSPCC campaign. Both of them also knew Ghislaine Maxwell and were friends with Evelyn de Rothschild, the City financier, and his wife Lynn, who in turn were friends with Epstein. Maxwell, who is serving a jail sentence for child sex trafficking for Epstein, was photographed with Mr Mountbatten-Windsor at a “hookers and pimps” Halloween party in New York before he was given the trade role. She was also friends with Lord Mandelson, who had worked as a consultant for her father Robert, the one time owner of the Daily Mirror.” – Daily Telegraph
Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor arrested for misconduct in public office – The Times
Andrew’s top aide struck secret deal with Chinese state – Daily Telegraph
Former PM Gordon Brown submits ‘new and additional info’ to police – Sky News
Police search of Royal Lodge continues as Andrew released under investigation – The Guardian
Comment:
Whatever the outcome of Andrew’s arrest, the whole monarchy is in the dock – and British people are both judge and jury – Julia Hartley-Brewer, The Sun
As Andrew sits alone in a police cell, Charles and William will be secretly relieved – Jennie Bond, The i
A grave threat that the Monarchy must survive – Daily Mail Comment
Wider wall of royal secrecy must come down in wake of Andrew arrest – The Times View
> Yesterday:
Jake Waterfield: A Conservative case for cleaning up the House of Lords in the wake of Mandelson
Starmer’s Chagos deal in crisis
“A dramatic late intervention by a judge has thrown Sir Keir Starmer’s beleaguered plans to hand over the Chagos Islands to Mauritius further into chaos. Justice James Lewis ruled from a flight at around 25,000ft in the air on Thursday to temporarily block an order removing the islanders, who had landed earlier this week. The decision adds to the …
