Lord Peter Mandelson has admitted that he finds his birthday message to paedophile financier Jeffrey Epstein “very embarrassing”.
The UK Ambassador to the US also conceded that he "deeply" regretted continuing his association with the convicted paedophile "longer than I should have done".
It comes after revelations Lord Mandelson allegedly described Epstein as "my best pal" in a message for his 50th birthday in 2003.
The compilation of messages feature in a 50th birthday book for Epstein, which was compiled by his ex-girlfriend, Ghislaine Maxwell, who is currently serving time in prison for her role in recruiting and trafficking minors for sex.
Lord Mandelson told The Sun that "I find them very embarrassing to see and to read".
"But they were written before he was indicted," he said.
The financier faced his first criminal charges in Florida during 2006 for soliciting prostitution.
Lord Mandelson said he felt "two things now".
Lord Mandelson is currently serving as Britain's Ambassador to the US
| GETTY“I just feel two things now – one, I feel a tremendous sense, a profound sense of sympathy for those people," he added.
"Those women, who suffered as a result of his behaviour and his illegal criminal activities.
“Secondly, I regret very, very deeply indeed carrying on that association with him for far longer than I should have done.”
Lord Mandeslon allegedly wrote: "Wherever he is in the world, he remains by best pal".
Lord Mandelson detailing his regret over his association with Jeffrey Epstein
|THE SUN
"Happy birthday, Jeffrey, we love you," he appeared to add.
However, Lord Mandelson had previously said he "very much regrets ever having been introduced to Epstein".
He added on another occasion that he regretted meeting him and "being introduced to him by his partner, Ghislaine Maxwell".
"I regret ever more the hurt he caused to many young women," Lord Mandelson said.
Meanwhile, it has surfaced that Epstein brokered a deal with Lord Mandelson over the sale of a taxpayer-owned business, following the financier being convicted of child sex offences.
Months after he was released from prison, he reportedly worked on a deal alongside the then-Labour Business Secretary.
Epstein advised Lord Mandelson as well as senior JP Morgan Executive Jes Staley on the purchase of the firm's Sempra Commodities - a joint venture between the publicly owned Royal Bank of Scotland and Sempra Energy.
While Sir Keir Starmer has backed Lord Mandelson to stay on as Ambassador, one of Epstein's British victims rejected this.
"Something is really, really wrong here," Sarah Ransome told The Daily Telegraph.
"Peter Mandelson should not be Ambassador.
"He needs to be fired. He is unsuitable to be Ambassador."