In a development that has left diplomatic circles buzzing, Britain’s ambassador to NATO, Angus Lapsley, has reportedly made headlines by inviting an Italian intern to reside in his official quarters. This move has sparked surprise and raised eyebrows among his peers.
Concerns have emerged about a potential romantic involvement between the 55-year-old ambassador, a father of two, and his 29-year-old assistant, Francesca Cortini. The duo is believed to have first crossed paths two years ago while Cortini was gaining experience at NATO headquarters. This meeting occurred not long after Lapsley narrowly escaped dismissal for accidentally leaving 50 pages of classified documents at a bus stop in Kent.
The relationship between Lapsley and Cortini has reportedly become an “open secret” among the diplomatic community. It’s speculated that the pair might be cohabiting in the ambassador’s luxurious British residence in Brussels. This residence, a five-story former hotel, is one that Lapsley is entitled to use and currently shares with two colleagues.
Amidst growing speculation, Lapsley withdrew from a scheduled meeting at NATO headquarters on Wednesday. Sources indicate that both he and the Foreign Office became aware that details of his personal life were on the verge of becoming public knowledge, prompting this decision.
It is thought they could be living at the plush British residence in Brussels, a five-storey former hotel Mr Lapsley is entitled to use, sharing it with two colleagues.
The envoy pulled out of a meeting at Nato HQ on Wednesday, according to reports, after he and the Foreign Office were made aware that details of his relationship would soon be made public.
His romance with Ms Cortini has been deemed such an issue that it has reportedly been brought to the attention of Admiral Sir Keith Blount, the most senior British officer in Nato.
Dame Caroline Wilson, the UK’s soon-to-be ambassador to the European Union, has stated it is ‘inappropriate’ for the couple to be living together at the idyllic townhouse in the Belgium capital.
Senior figures have raised concerns that Angus Lapsley (pictured), a father of two, is dating his 29-year-old assistant
The Nato envoy’s relationship with Francesca Cortini (pictured) has now become an ‘open secret’
It is thought they could be living at the plush British residence in Brussels (pictured)
However, after review, Nato decided that Mr Lapsley and Ms Cortini’s controversial romance does not break any guidelines. An official said: ‘Nato requires all managers to declare any real or perceived conflict of interest.
‘This policy is long-standing and has not been changed in recent years.’
Unlike in the British military, Nato does not consider romantic relations within the chain of command a sackable offence.
Only last year, former First Sea Lord of the Royal Navy Sir Ben Key was sacked and stripped of his Admiral rank for having an affair with a subordinate.
But talk of Mr Lapsley’s romance went as far as Brussels on Thursday, where Defence Secretary John Healey told a Nato briefing: ‘The United Kingdom expects the highest standards of its ambassadors for this country.
‘My focus today has been to work with allies to demonstrate we can step up to support Ukraine.’
It is believed Mr Lapsley made his bosses aware of the romance, which started after he separated from his wife Gina.
The diplomat was appointed as the UK’s ambassador only in April last year, less than four years after he faced an investigation for an almost comical blunder while on secondment to the Ministry of Defence from the Foreign Office.
His romance with Ms Cortini has been deemed such an issue that it has reportedly been brought to the attention of Admiral Sir Keith Blount, the most senior British officer in Nato
The pair are understood to have met while she was a 27-year-old intern at Nato HQ, soon after Lapsley narrowly avoided the sack for leaving 50 pages of ‘top secret’ documents at a bus stop in Kent
Here, the couple are pictured together in a photo taken from Lapsley’s X page where he is seen serving her a crepe
At a bus stop in Kent in 2021, Mr Lapsley left behind some 50 pages of confidential documents containing the secret locations of British special forces soldiers in Afghanistan.
A source said the files had fallen out of his bag as he rushed from Canterbury to work, with them found wet and piled up by a member of the public.
The mishap sparked a furious reaction from senior figures in the US, with them fearing it could have endangered their troops in South Asia.
Mr Lapsley at the time was the director-general for strategy and international at the Ministry of Defence and had been lined up to become the UK’s ambassador to Nato.
However, he had his security clearance suspended following the incident – but it was reinstated after an investigation.
He was then appointed to a planning role before he eventually succeeded Sir David Quarrey in the Nato job.
A Foreign Office spokesman last night commented: ‘It is long-standing policy not to comment on personnel matters.’
