“They don’t think he should be seen grinning and smiling on his horse like he was in Windsor. But it was one of the few things he actually enjoyed doing so what on earth is he going to do with his time?”
Mountbatten-Windsor allegedly angered aides when he was photographed grinning and waving at passers-by in Windsor, despite growing calls for a wider investigation into his dealings with Epstein.
Thames Valley Police are assessing claims in the Epstein files that suggest he sent the American financier sensitive government emails from 2001 to 2011, when the former prince was a trade envoy. Officers have finished searching Royal Lodge.
On Tuesday, MPs broke with parliamentary tradition to criticise Mountbatten-Windsor, branding him a “rude, arrogant and entitled man” and accusing him of turning a blind eye to Epstein’s crimes, which included soliciting a minor for prostitution. By convention, MPs do not criticise members of the royal family.
The Liberal Democrats had tried to use a parliamentary mechanism to compel ministers to release files about Mountbatten-Windsor’s appointment as a trade envoy.
However, Downing Street is refusing to publish all the documents, claiming certain files could jeopardise the police investigation into his alleged misconduct.
The documents could also show the extent of Lord Mandelson’s role in the appointment, as well as details of the due diligence process. The Telegraph previously revealed how Mandelson helped Mountbatten-Windsor secure the job of trade envoy, against the wishes of the King.
Mandelson was arrested on suspicion of misconduct in public office on Monday. The former Labour Cabinet minister was detained by Metropolitan Police officers after a tip-off that he was about to flee Britain for the British Virgin Islands.
The peer was required to surrender his passport as part of his bail conditions, following seven hours of police questioning. Lawyers for Lord Mandelson on Tuesday described allegations that he was planning to flee as “baseless”.
Mountbatten-Windsor has always denied any wrongdoing over his links to Epstein. After his arrest, the King said“the law must take its course”.
Buckingham Palace declined to comment.
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