Karen Pierce: Senior diplomat heads to Washington at rocky time for ‘special relationship’

She 'places great store in objectivity and integrity' – and it remains to be seen how she gets on with the Trump White House, writes Kim Sengupta

(PA)

One of the UK’s most senior diplomats has been appointed ambassador to the United States to replace Sir Kim Darroch, who resigned from the post after the leaking of his emails about Donald Trump.

Karen Pierce, who is currently the envoy to the United Nations in New York and permanent representative at the Security Council, will become Britain’s first female ambassador to Washington.

Since joining the Foreign Office in 1981, she has held a series of senior posts, dealing with Afghanistan and Pakistan, Ukraine, the Balkans and Japan, and is highly regarded by her international colleagues.