Kensington Council to Re-Examine Evidence in Lord Mandelson Urination Probe Near Osborne Home
Feb. 24, 2026 — Notting Hill, London The Royal Borough of Kensington and Chelsea (RBKC) said it will contact Lord Peter Mandelson regarding photographs of the former UK ambassador to the US allegedly urinating against a garden wall here in November 2025, shortly after leaving George Osborne‘s nearby £10 million townhouse following a dinner.
The incident occurred late on a Wednesday night when Mandelson, 72, arrived at Osborne’s home around 8pm carrying a bottle of Chilean wine and departed hours later. A friend told The Guardian the evening ended early because Osborne’s child fell ill, and Mandelson did not wish to knock to use the toilet while awaiting an Uber.
Council Investigation
RBKC launched a formal probe shortly after The Telegraph published the images on Nov. 15, 2025. Councillor Johnny Thalassites, lead for environment and planning, stated:
We are aware of images appearing to show a prominent politician caught short on one of our streets and are investigating whether an offence has been committed. While we appreciate that nature can call at the most inconvenient moments, we are proud of our borough’s clean streets and amazing spaces, and it is unacceptable for anyone to treat them as a urinal.
Initially deeming the evidence insufficient, the council announced in early February 2026 it was “looking again at the evidence” following Daily Mail inquiries and Mandelson’s apology, per Thalassites.
Mandelson’s Apology
Mandelson apologized, saying:
I can only offer my profuse apologies. I was stood up by two Uber drivers and kept waiting in the street for half an hour and was bursting. There is no disguising my embarrassment.
He noted in an interview that some viewed the photos as “very humanising.”
On Feb. 5, 2026, Tory MP Sir Christopher Chope referenced the matter in Parliament: “We have to thank our mercies that Mandelson has been exposed finally and it wasn’t just the exposure outside George Osborne’s house.”
Broader Context
The episode followed Mandelson’s September 2025 dismissal as US ambassador amid Epstein-related emails, with speculation on podcasts like Political Currency that Osborne might succeed him.
The pair share a history from the 2008-2010 “Yachtgate,” where both attended a Russian oligarch’s yacht party, prompting Mandelson to criticize Osborne publicly.
