A portrait of former US Senator George Mitchell will remain on display at Hillsborough Castle, Northern Ireland's official royal residence, as part of the castle's historical record of the peace process, despite his links to convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein coming under intense scrutiny.
Mitchell played a pivotal role in negotiating the 1998 Good Friday Agreement, which brought an end to decades of conflict in Northern Ireland. His contributions to the peace process are considered foundational to the region's stability, and the castle where many of those negotiations took place continues to honour that historical role.
The decision to keep the portrait marks a divergence from actions taken by other institutions. On 3 February 2026, Queen's University Belfast removed a £35,000 bust of Mitchell from its campus, and on 1 February 2026, the US-Ireland Alliance announced that the George J Mitchell Scholarship Program would no longer carry his name. These actions followed the release of millions of documents by the US Department of Justice relating to Epstein's activities, which contained references to earlier allegations that Mitchell had contact with Epstein victim Virginia Giuffre.
The released files have cast a shadow over Mitchell's reputation. According to reporting from USA Today, Epstein-related emails released in 2026 mentioned George Mitchell dozens of times, including messages arranging meetings and sharing his contact information. The same report noted that Epstein wrote in 2011 that Mitchell was
my very close friend and chairman of piper.
Mitchell has consistently denied the allegations.
I have never met, spoken with or had any contact with Ms. Giuffre, he said in response to the initial claims. A BBC report on 5 February 2026 indicated that Mitchell's alleged contact included a handwritten 2003 letter later described by his spokesperson as a case of mistaken identity regarding Giuffre. Earlier this year, Mitchell's spokesperson reiterated that
he never met, spoken to or had any contact with Giuffre or any underage women.
The spokesperson added that Mitchell
profoundly regrets ever having known Jeffrey Epstein and condemns, without reservation, the horrific harm Epstein inflicted on so many women, and stated that he did not observe, suspect or have any knowledge of Epstein engaging in illegal or inappropriate conduct with underage women.
Why is the portrait staying at Hillsborough Castle?
Historic Royal Palaces, the independent charity responsible for managing Hillsborough Castle, has determined that the portrait will remain as part of the castle's historical narrative. The portrait hangs in Lady Grey's study, a room open to the public during guided tours that showcases figures central to the Northern Ireland peace process.
The charity stated that
The 'Preparing the Peace' display is the means through which we share the story of the peace process, and the role that the castle played in negotiations, with our visitors. It emphasised that
The display is situated in a room at the castle where many important negotiations and bilateral talks between the individuals involved took place.
Historic Royal Palaces clarified its curatorial approach, saying
It does not seek to promote or endorse the contribution of any one individual and the works on display have been selected solely because the sitters featured attended peace talks at Hillsborough Castle. The organisation concluded that
We maintain that the castle's role in the peace process is an important story to share, and we will continue to do so.
What is the governance structure at Hillsborough Castle?
Responsibility for the castle's day-to-day operations and curatorial decisions rests with Historic Royal Palaces, not with government officials. In March 2017, the Northern Ireland Office granted Historic Royal Palaces a 25-year lease to manage Hillsborough Castle and its gardens. While Northern Ireland Office Ministers have use of the castle for official functions, a Northern Ireland Office spokesperson confirmed that
responsibility for its day-to-day running, including the collections and art on display, rests with Historic Royal Palaces.
The castle serves dual roles as both the official residence of the Royal family in Northern Ireland and the UK's official residence of the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland. The study where Mitchell's portrait hangs is described by the charity as a
calm, cosy place for contemplationand historically hosted significant one-to-one discussions and bilateral talks during peace negotiations.
What other portraits are displayed in Lady Grey's study?
The study features portraits of numerous high-profile figures involved in or connected to the peace process, including former prime ministers, taoisigh (Irish prime ministers), US presidents, secretaries of state and local politicians. The room's collection reflects the international and cross-party nature of the negotiations that took place within its walls during the peace process.
What is known about Mitchell's relationship with Epstein?
Epstein was a well-connected financier and convicted sex offender who was found dead by suicide in 2019 while awaiting trial on sex trafficking charges. The documents released in 2026 have provided new details about the extent of contact between Mitchell and Epstein over many years.
In 2019, a court document contained claims that Virginia Giuffre had been directed to have sex with a number of high-profile people, including Mitchell. The latest release of documents indicated a continued relationship between Mitchell and Epstein following Epstein's first conviction. In 2025, a BBC report noted a handwritten note from Epstein's
birthday bookthat referred to the relationship as a
blessing, intensifying scrutiny around Mitchell's ties to Epstein.
Virginia Giuffre, who brought allegations against Epstein and others, took her own life at the age of 41. Being named or pictured in the Epstein files is not an indication of wrongdoing, and many of those identified in other releases have denied any wrongdoing in relation to Epstein.
Key Facts
- George Mitchell's portrait will remain on display in Lady Grey's study at Hillsborough Castle, which is open to the public on guided tours
- Queen's University Belfast removed a £35,000 bust of Mitchell on 3 February 2026, and the US-Ireland Alliance renamed its scholarship programme on 1 February 2026, in response to Epstein-related allegations
- Historic Royal Palaces, which manages the castle under a 25-year lease from the Northern Ireland Office, stated the display is curated solely based on individuals' attendance at peace talks, not to endorse any individual
- Mitchell has consistently denied allegations of contact with Virginia Giuffre and stated he regrets knowing Epstein and condemns the harm Epstein caused
- The castle's Lady Grey's study historically hosted significant bilateral negotiations during the Northern Ireland peace process
