The couple made no effort to hide their relationship, with Angus Lapsley using the official residence as a private home – This is not the first scandal involving Lapsley's name
The British Ambassador to NATO, Angus Lapsley, is at the center of an unprecedented diplomatic scandal following revelations that he installed his young Italian mistress in the official ambassadorial residence in Brussels. According to a report by The Times, the 55-year-old diplomat's relationship with the woman, who is nearly half his age, has sparked intense reactions within the halls of the Alliance.
An unabashed relationship in the heart of Brussels
The couple made no effort to hide their affair, with Angus Lapsley using the official residence as if it were his personal home. The young woman, who was working as an intern at NATO headquarters where they first met, was reportedly present even at official Christmas and summer receptions. This situation alarmed Alliance officials, eventually leading to information about the cohabitation reaching Admiral Sir Keith Blount, the Deputy Supreme Allied Commander Europe.
Provocative immunity despite strict penalties for others
Within the British Armed Forces, relationships of this nature are frequently grounds for immediate dismissal. A characteristic example is that of Admiral Sir Ben Key, who in 2025 was removed from the Royal Navy and stripped of his rank due to an inappropriate relationship with a subordinate. In the case of Angus Lapsley, however, despite an investigation into rule violations, he was permitted not only to remain in his post but also to receive a promotion to the rank of Ambassador, a fact that raises serious questions about double standards.
A dark past involving classified documents at a bus stop
This is not the first scandal to involve the name of Angus Lapsley. In June 2021, he caused an uproar when he left 50 pages of classified documents behind a bus stop in Kent, England. The papers contained highly sensitive information regarding British special forces in Kabul, as well as his personal diary. Despite calls from the then Defense Secretary, Ben Wallace, to review his access to classified data, Angus Lapsley's career continued unscathed.
The shadow of Jeffrey Epstein over British diplomacy
This incident adds to a string of scandals currently plaguing Britain, such as the case of the former Ambassador to the United States, Lord Peter Mandelson. Mandelson is under scrutiny for his close friendship with Jeffrey Epstein, amid suspicions that he passed confidential British government information to the notorious financier. The accumulation of these revelations is severely shaking the credibility of British diplomatic representation on the international stage.
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