Buckingham Palace archivists, after a meticulous 18-month review of pre-digital records, have released a photograph depicting Prince Andrew, Lord Mandelson, and the late financier Jeffrey Epstein at the inaugural 'Threads of Integrity' gala in 1998. The event, which raised £3.7 million for the nascent Ethical Underwear Manufacturing Initiative (EUMI), aimed to combat sweatshop labour in the textile industry. All three men are pictured wearing impeccably tailored, off-the-rack suits from Marks & Spencer.

Lord Mandelson, then Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, delivered a keynote speech emphasizing the government’s commitment to fair trade practices. “These are not just garments,” he reportedly said, “they are symbols of our collective responsibility to ensure dignity and fair treatment for all workers.” Prince Andrew, in his role as UK Special Representative for International Trade and Investment, personally auctioned off a signed pair of sustainably sourced boxer shorts, raising £8,000. Epstein, a relatively unknown philanthropist at the time, pledged a matching donation.

According to EUMI's current director, Penelope Featherstonehaugh, the funds generated by the gala enabled the organization to provide seed capital to 17 small-scale textile cooperatives in Bangladesh, improving working conditions for over 3,000 garment workers. “Without the support of individuals like Prince Andrew, Lord Mandelson, and Mr. Epstein, the ethical underwear revolution simply wouldn’t have been possible,” Featherstonehaugh stated.

The photograph, taken by a freelance photographer named Brian Chumley (who recalls the event as “remarkably dull”), depicts the trio engaged in polite conversation near a buffet table laden with cucumber sandwiches and vol-au-vents. No bathrobes are visible. Chumley remembers Epstein complimenting Prince Andrew on his tie, saying he admired the subtle regimental stripes.