The British official was exposed in an embarrassing quote during the King’s visit to Washington

Britain’s ambassador to Washington, Sir Christian Turner, said the United States’ only “special” relationship is “probably with Israel, not Britain,” in comments that could embarrass King Charles during his visit to the United States this week.

Turner also criticized the American political system, which he said failed to prosecute American associates of the sex offender Jeffrey Epstein, saying it was “extraordinary” that the affair “touched almost no one” in the US.

He noted that, on the other hand, high-ranking figures in the United Kingdom, including the ambassador Lord Peter Mendelsohn and “the prime minister may also have fallen” following the affair. A recording of the words, which were said in mid-February at an event with British students visiting Washington, shortly after Turner took office, was delivered this week toFinancial Times.

In unusual remarks for a senior diplomat, he said British Prime Minister Keir Starmer was “on the rocks” earlier this year following the crisis over Mandelsohn’s appointment, and that Labor could oust him after May’s local elections..

During a question and answer session, Turner said that he does not like the phrase “special relationship” to describe the relationship between Great Britain and the United States, and claimed that it is “quite nostalgic, looks back, and has a lot of baggage on it.” The ambassador added: “I think there is probably one country that has a special relationship with the United States – and that is probably Israel.”

The words were said in the weeks preceding the US and Israeli attacks on Iran that started the current conflict in the Middle East. Turner said that despite this, the connection between London and Washington is very strong, and added: “We have a deep history and affinity. Especially in the areas of defense and security, we are intertwined.” However, he said: “The relationship will continue, if you will, to be ‘special’, but I think it will have to be different.”

According to him, Britain and the rest of Europe must “work to redefine” relations, especially in security aspects, instead of relying on the American security umbrella. He added that Britain also needs to clarify what it brings to the table in bilateral relations. Turner also answered questions about the Epstein affair and the differences in how it developed on both sides of the Atlantic Ocean.

According to him, it seems “extraordinary” to him that the affair surrounding the convicted sex offender “has brought down a high-ranking member of the royal family (Prince Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor, Tel Aviv), a British ambassador in Washington, possibly even a prime minister – yet here in the US, it hardly touched anyone.”

The facts were revealed ahead of the King’s speech to Congress on Tuesday afternoon, as part of a four-day diplomatic visit by him and Queen Camilla to the US, which will also include New York. The King and Queen faced heavy pressure from activists and US Congressman Ro Hanna to meet with some of Epstein’s victims during the visit, but refused.

The royal visit is seen by British government officials as an attempt to calm bilateral relations at a time of heightened tensions, following repeated attacks by US President Donald Trump on Starmer and criticism of Britain for refusing to provide wider support for the US and Israel’s war against Iran.

Turner noted that US lawmakers are seeking to prosecute some of the senior figures associated with Epstein, including inviting Mendelsohn and King to testify before Congress. However, he added: “How many Americans have been called to testify before Congress when the Epstein documents point to very senior people, politicians, businessmen, Bill Gates – all of whom were in close contact with Epstein?” Since Turner’s words, Gates, one of the founders of Microsoft, has agreed to testify.

Referring to the appointment and dismissal of Mendelsohn, Turner said that the affair was “a crisis that almost brought down the government and ended the prime minister’s term.” The diplomat said that earlier in February “at one point it was quite clear that Starmer was on the boards, and his future seemed uncertain.”

He pointed out that the rules of the Labor Party set a high bar for removing a sitting Prime Minister, and emphasized that 80 MPs are required to “publicly sign a letter, which is like signing a death sentence.” Reaching such a threshold is still quite difficult, and Starmer is “a stubborn person who is not likely to resign”, the ambassador said. However, he added: “The moment I would look at is the elections in May. If Labor fails badly, I estimate that the party will be able to cross that threshold and oust him – that seems to me to be the accepted thinking.”

Sir Peter Westamcott, former British ambassador to the US, defended Turner and toldFinancial Times: “It can be embarrassing when things said to a private audience become public, but I see no reason why what he said to a group of students a few months ago should affect his ability to continue his excellent opening in Washington.”

A British Foreign Office spokesman said: “These were private and informal comments made to a group of British high school students visiting the US in early February. They certainly do not reflect the position of the British government.”