Kemi Badenoch has praised the royal family for its response to the scandal engulfing Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor as she said they were in a “very difficult” position.
In an interview with The Independent, the Tory leader, who described herself as a monarchist, also said the King had led on the issue “in an exemplary fashion”.
Mr Mountbatten-Windsor was arrested last week and later released under investigation on suspicion of misconduct in public office. The royal has consistently denied any wrongdoing.
It followed allegations uncovered in the so-called Epstein files that Mr Mountbatten Windsor had shared sensitive information with the disgraced paedophile financier Jeffrey Epstein while serving as the UK’s trade envoy.
Ms Badenoch said: “I think that what the King said has been right – the law must run its course.”
As she praised the King, she criticised Sir Keir Starmer’s response to the allegations that emerged about Labour grandee Peter Mandelson and his connections to Epstein.
“If you can compare the King's behaviour with something affecting his family, his own brother – complete transparency,” she said.
“On the government side, it's been hiding papers (and) saying what a great guy Peter Madelson was, as the prime minister did six months ago when I first confronted him with these allegations.”
She added: “I think it's very sad what's happened with the royal family. I think Prince Andrew has brought significant reputational damage, and he should be punished for that where the wrongdoing is proven.
“But I am also a monarchist. I think we have an amazing royal family. I think that His Majesty has led on this issue in an exemplary fashion. And I support the family overall. I think that they're in a very difficult position, and people shouldn't forget the human angle of that.”
The government is considering bringing in a law to remove the disgraced royal, currently eighth in line to the throne, from the line of succession after the police investigation concludes.
A group of MPs are also considering launching a parliamentary probe into the role of UK trade envoys following the allegations. Mr Mountbatten-Windsor was stripped of his royal titles amid the ongoing scandal over his friendship with Epstein.
In 2022, he paid a reported £12m to settle a civil sexual assault lawsuit brought by Virginia Giuffre, who said she was trafficked by Epstein and made to sleep with the royal on three occasions. He has consistently denied any wrongdoing.
On Monday, Lord Mandelson was arrested on suspicion of misconduct in public office. The former Labour minister has been accused of passing sensitive information to Epstein during his time as business secretary in Gordon Borwn’s government.
Two of his properties were previously searched by police in connection with the allegations, which surfaced following the US Department of Justice's release of documents known as the Epstein files last month.
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