[1andrew1]

Unfortunate timing for the King (and likely timed for that reason). I would probably add Russia to the short list of special relationships.

America’s special relationship is ‘probably Israel’, says UK ambassador to US

In leaked remarks, Christian Turner also says it is ‘extraordinary’ that Epstein scandal has not affected sex offender’s US associates

Britain’s ambassador to Washington has said that America’s only “special relationship” is “probably Israel”, not the UK, in remarks that risk embarrassing King Charles during his visit to the US this week.

Sir Christian Turner also criticised America’s political system for failing to hold US associates of the sex offender Jeffrey Epstein to account, saying it was “extraordinary” that the scandal “hasn’t touched anybody” in the US.

He noted that, by contrast, senior British figures, including his predecessor as ambassador Lord Peter Mandelson and “potentially the prime minister”, had been “brought down” by the affair.

A recording of the remarks, made in mid-February at an event with UK students visiting Washington, shortly after Turner started in post, was shared with the FT this week.

In comments that are outspoken for a senior diplomat, he said UK Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer had been “on the ropes” earlier this year from the fallout over the appointment of Mandelson, and that the Labour Party could “remove” him after local elections in May...

A Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office spokesperson said: “These were private, informal comments made to a group of UK sixth-form students visiting the US in early February. They are certainly not any reflection of the UK government’s position.”

https://www.ft.com/content/d4bfac8a-...syn-25a6b1a6=1