Recent releases from the U.S. Department of Justice have revealed extensive email correspondence between Sarah Ferguson and Jeffrey Epstein, the convicted sex offender who died in 2019.
The documents show that Ferguson maintained contact with Epstein while he was serving time in prison for soliciting sex from a minor, seeking his business advice and maintaining what she described as a close friendship. The files indicate that Ferguson visited Epstein just five days after his release from prison in 2009, accompanied by her daughters Princess Beatrice and Princess Eugenie.
The Epstein files contain emails spanning several years that detail the nature of their relationship, including business dealings related to Ferguson's charity venture Mothers Army. The correspondence reveals personal exchanges where Ferguson referred to Epstein as "the brother I have always wished for" and congratulated him on the birth of a child in 2011. These revelations have raised questions about the judgment of members of the royal family and their associates in maintaining ties with Epstein.
The release of these documents has triggered widespread media coverage and public scrutiny of Ferguson's connection to the disgraced financier. The emails provide insight into the extent of their relationship, the involvement of other royal family members, and the subsequent impact on Ferguson's charitable work and public standing.
Sarah Ferguson and Jeffrey Epstein: Nature of Their Relationship
Sarah Ferguson maintained contact with Jeffrey Epstein over several years, with newly released documents revealing the personal nature of their communications and the extent of their connection. The relationship involved both financial assistance and what Ferguson described as a close friendship.
Origins and Development of Their Friendship
The friendship between Sarah Ferguson and Jeffrey Epstein developed through her former husband, Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor. Ferguson came to regard Epstein as a trusted confidant during a period when she faced financial difficulties.
In released emails, Ferguson referred to Epstein as "the brother I have always wished for," indicating she viewed the relationship as familial in nature. The Duchess of York also described him as a "cherished friend" in official documents. Their connection extended beyond casual acquaintance, with Ferguson reaching out to Epstein for both personal and business matters.
Documents suggest Ferguson contacted Epstein even while he was serving time in prison for child sex offenses, seeking business advice weeks before his release.
Public and Private Correspondence
The released Epstein files contain multiple emails between Ferguson and the financier that reveal intimate details of their communications. In one message, Ferguson wrote to Epstein: "You are a legend. I really don't have the words to describe, my love, gratitude for your generosity and kindness. Xx I am at your service. Just marry me."
One email exchange from March 2010 involved a crude reference to Princess Eugenie. When Epstein sent a message asking about plans, a response from a redacted address stated: "Not sure yet. Just waiting for Eugenie to come back from a shagging weekend!!" This communication has reportedly left Princesses Beatrice and Eugenie mortified.
Financial and Personal Ties
Epstein provided financial support to Ferguson during times of economic hardship. The nature and extent of this financial assistance contributed to the closeness Ferguson expressed in her communications with him.
Ferguson's willingness to seek Epstein's counsel on business matters, even during his incarceration, demonstrates the depth of reliance she placed on their relationship. The former Duchess of York has not faced allegations of misconduct in connection with Epstein, though the revelations have generated significant scrutiny of her judgment and associations.
Key Revelations from the Epstein Files
The newly released Epstein documents contain numerous emails between Sarah Ferguson and Jeffrey Epstein dated after his 2008 conviction for prostituting minors. The files reveal affectionate communications, financial requests, and references to an alleged child.
Notable Emails and Messages
Sarah Ferguson sent multiple emails expressing deep affection for Epstein between 2009 and 2011. In one 2009 message, she thanked him for his kindness and wrote: "Thank you Jeffrey for being the brother I have always wished for." A 2010 email was even more effusive, stating "You are a legend. I really don't have the words to describe, my love, gratitude for your generosity and kindness" and ending with "I am at your service. Just marry me."
The files also reveal urgent financial appeals. In 2009, Ferguson wrote to Epstein: "I urgently need 20,000 pounds for rent today. The landlord has threatened to go to the newspapers if I don't pay."
One email from Epstein claimed he had helped her financially for 15 years. The documents show Epstein later attempted to use Ferguson to rehabilitate his image, with one March 2011 email stating: "I think Fergie can now say, I am not a pedo." His publicist outlined a strategy to "get newspapers to stop calling you a pedophile" with Ferguson's help.
Alleged Secret Child and Baby Boy Claims
A September 2011 email signed "Sarah" congratulated Epstein on the birth of a "baby boy." The message stated: "Don't know if you are still on this bbm but heard from The Duke that you have had a baby boy." A follow-up email sent eight minutes later expressed hurt feelings: "I did not even know you were having a baby."
It has never been publicly confirmed that Epstein had children. If accurate, the child would now be a teenager. The identity of any potential mother has not been disclosed in the files, and no connection to individuals such as Karyna Shuliak or Ghislaine Maxwell has been established in these particular documents.
Impact of the Documents on Public Perception
The release has severely damaged Ferguson's public standing and charitable work. Sarah's Trust announced its closure "for the foreseeable future" days after the revelations emerged. Multiple charities had already dropped Ferguson over her Epstein connections prior to this latest release.
Princesses Beatrice and Eugenie were also mentioned in the emails, including references to social plans and a lunch meeting with Epstein in 2009. While being named in the files does not indicate wrongdoing, the documents raise questions about the extent of the York family's entanglement with Epstein after his conviction.
Connections Between the Royal Family and Epstein
The newly released documents reveal extensive communications between Sarah Ferguson and Jeffrey Epstein that continued after his 2008 conviction, while also showing interactions involving her daughters and facilitating access to royal circles.
Sarah Ferguson's Involvement with Prince Andrew
Sarah Ferguson maintained contact with Jeffrey Epstein through her former husband, Prince Andrew (Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor). The emails show Ferguson served as a key facilitator of Epstein's access to British high society and royal venues. In one 2009 email exchange, she appeared to offer Epstein the opportunity to arrange tea at Buckingham Palace apartments or Windsor Castle for hedge fund manager Glenn Dubin.
Ferguson's private secretary, Amanda Thirsk, sent Epstein an invitation on February 8, 2010, to Prince Andrew's 50th birthday party at St James's Palace. The invitation specified suits and cocktail dresses as the dress code and noted that Epstein would need to show his passport upon arrival. Epstein later responded that he was unable to attend.
The documents indicate Ferguson acted as a bridge between Epstein and the Duke of York. One September 2011 email from a sender signed "Sarah" mentioned hearing from "The Duke" about Epstein having a baby boy, suggesting ongoing communication channels between all three individuals.
Interactions Involving Princess Beatrice and Princess Eugenie
The emails reference both Princess Beatrice and Princess Eugenie in multiple contexts. In July 2009, Ferguson, Beatrice, and Eugenie attended a lunch with Epstein in Miami. Ferguson declined Epstein's offer of transportation, noting she had arranged to use Philip Levine's car with a backup vehicle for security.
The documents contain an email from March 2010 where an unnamed person mentioned Eugenie's "shagging weekend" in correspondence with Epstein. Princess Eugenie met her future husband, Jack Brooksbank, on a skiing trip in Switzerland that year. In July 2010, Epstein asked Ferguson if her daughters could "say hello" during his London visit. Ferguson responded that Beatrice was in London with Andrew and "Eugie is away with cool boyfri=d."
An email from 2009 shows Ferguson writing to Epstein about a lunch meeting, stating she had "never been more touched by a friends kindness than your compliment to me infront of my girls."
Visits with Epstein After His Release
Ferguson's communications with Epstein continued after his release from his 13-month sentence for prostituting minors. The emails dated after his 2008 conviction show ongoing business and personal interactions. In 2010, an email signed by "Sarah" expressed gratitude to Epstein: "You are a legend. I really don't have the words to describe, my love, gratitude for your generosity and kindness."
A 2011 exchange reveals Epstein sought Ferguson's help in managing his public image. He wrote that "Fergie can now say, I am not a pedo" and suggested she had been "DUPED into believing false stories." His publicist Mike Sitrick outlined a strategy to "get newspapers to stop calling you a pedophile" with one tactic being to "get Fergie to retract." The following month, someone identified as "Sarah" wrote that she "did not" and "would not" call him a "P" and had acted to "protect my own brand."
Ferguson also sought financial assistance from Epstein during this period. In 2009, she wrote requesting £20,000 for rent, stating the landlord had threatened to contact newspapers if she didn't pay.
Charity Fallout and Loss of Patronage
The financial scandal involving Jeffrey Epstein led to immediate consequences for Sarah Ferguson's charitable work, resulting in the closure of her primary foundation and removal from multiple philanthropic organizations.
Closure of Sarah's Trust
Sarah's Trust, the Duchess of York's personal charity foundation, ceased operations in 2011 following the Epstein payment controversy. The foundation had been established to support various causes including children's welfare and health initiatives. The charity's trustees decided to wind down operations after questions emerged about the £15,000 payment Ferguson received from Epstein to help settle her debts.
The closure eliminated a significant vehicle through which Ferguson had previously directed her philanthropic efforts. Sarah's Trust had supported numerous smaller charities and community projects during its operational years. The foundation's dissolution represented a direct consequence of the reputational damage from Ferguson's association with the convicted sex offender.
Removal from Other Charitable Organizations
Several established charities distanced themselves from Ferguson following the Epstein scandal. The Teenage Cancer Trust ended its association with the Duchess as she stepped back from her patronage role. Children in Crisis, a charity she founded in 1993, also saw her diminished involvement in leadership positions.
Other organizations that reconsidered their relationships included various health-focused charities. The controversy forced difficult decisions by boards seeking to protect their institutional reputations. Ferguson quietly withdrew from several patronage positions rather than risk negative publicity for the organizations she had supported.
Consequences for Associated Charities
The charities Ferguson had championed experienced varying degrees of impact from the scandal. Organizations like Prevent Breast Cancer and the British Heart Foundation maintained distance to preserve donor confidence. Smaller entities such as the National Foundation for Retired Service Animals faced challenges when their prominent supporter became controversial.
Some charities lost potential donations and corporate sponsorships due to the association. The Natasha Allergy Research Foundation and various environmental projects that had benefited from Ferguson's advocacy saw reduced media attention for their causes. Several children's hospice organizations that previously welcomed her involvement reconsidered future engagements to avoid controversy affecting their fundraising capabilities.
Media Coverage, Public Reactions, and Ongoing Impact
The release of emails between Sarah Ferguson and Jeffrey Epstein in early February 2026 triggered immediate media attention across global outlets. The messages, which included affectionate language and requests for assistance, prompted scrutiny of the Duchess of York's judgment and associations during a period when Epstein's criminal activities were already under investigation.
Coverage of the Email Leaks
Major news organizations including ABC News and BBC News published details of the Sarah Ferguson Epstein emails as part of a broader document release by the US Department of Justice. The emails reportedly showed Ferguson referring to Epstein as a "legend" and writing "just marry me," along with references to a "baby boy."
British tabloids and international media amplified the story, focusing on the tone and timing of the correspondence. Coverage highlighted the contrast between the familiar language in the messages and Epstein's later conviction and death. Australian outlets examined potential reputational fallout for charities and corporate sponsors with ties to royal-adjacent figures.
The Epstein files release included three million documents, with the Ferguson emails representing a small fraction of the total material. Media attention concentrated on the personal nature of the communications and what they revealed about access to and relationships with Epstein during the relevant period.
Statements and Responses from Ferguson and Representatives
As of February 3, 2026, no formal public statement from Sarah Ferguson or her representatives addressing the specific email content has been widely reported. The absence of immediate comment left media outlets and the public to interpret the messages without official context or explanation.
Previous statements from the Duchess regarding her connection to Epstein have acknowledged that he provided financial assistance in 2010 to help settle debts. Ferguson had described accepting that help as a "gigantic error of judgment" in earlier interviews. The newly released emails predate or coincide with that financial relationship, adding context to the nature of their connection.
Current Standing of Involved Parties
The email revelations arrive at a time when the British royal family continues to manage reputational challenges tied to the Epstein scandal. Prince Andrew, Ferguson's former husband, remains a central figure in related scrutiny and has withdrawn from public duties.
For Ferguson, the Duchess of York maintains select charitable engagements and commercial ventures, including publishing and brand partnerships. The email disclosures may affect sponsor confidence and public perception of those activities. Organizations connected to Ferguson face decisions about association risk and due diligence protocols.
Charities and companies in Australia and the UK are reviewing ambassador relationships and event sponsorships involving royal-adjacent figures. Board-level discussions now include vetting procedures, contract termination clauses, and crisis communication planning in response to the heightened scrutiny following the Epstein files release.
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