Sarah Ferguson has disappeared from public view in recent weeks as more details come to light about the extent of her friendship with disgraced financier Jeffrey Epstein
Sarah Ferguson asked Jeffrey Epstein to ‘marry’ her more than once – and that’s just the tip of the iceberg.
The ex-Duchess initially won public favour with her down-to-earth persona and ‘jolly hockeysticks’ attitude – but she is painted in a very different light in the latest release of Epstein emails.
While being named in the files does not indicate any wrongdoing, messages between Sarah and the convicted paedophile depict her as somewhat needy and eager to stay on side. There are requests for money, a declaration of love, and a crude message sent to the sex offender regarding one of her daughters.
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In 2025, Sarah’s spokesperson issued a statement on her behalf, which read: “The duchess spoke of her regret about her association with Epstein many years ago, and as they have always been, her first thoughts are with his victims. Like many people, she was taken in by his lies. As soon as she was aware of the extent of the allegations against him, she not only cut off contact but condemned him publicly, to the extent that he then threatened to sue her for defamation for associating him with paedophilia.”
The latest tranche of emails suggest Sarah maintained her friendship with Epstein even after he was convicted for soliciting sex from a minor. Here, we take a look at some of the most shocking exchanges between the pair.
Crude email
At various points in the emails, both Princess Beatrice and Princess Eugenie are named. Devastatingly for Eugenie, in one email her mother makes a crude reference to her love life. Dated March 2010, Epstein appears to ask Sarah about a possible trip to New York by writing: “ny?”. And in reply, she writes: “Not sure yet. Just waiting for Eugenie to come back from a sh*****g weekend.” The email was sent around the time of Eugenie’s 20th birthday, which she spent with then boyfriend, now husband, Jack Brooksbank.
In another email a few months later, Epstein contacted Ferguson on 1 July 2010 saying his god-daughter Celina would be in London that week, asking if there was any chance of her daughters Beatrice and Eugenie – then aged 21 and 20 – “saying h=llo” (sic). Ferguson replies after 48 hours saying Beatrice is in London with Andrew, and “Eugie is away with cool boyfri=d.” (sic).
Post-prison visit
The emails also indicate that Sarah flew to visit Epstein just five days after he was released from prison for sex crimes against children – and she seemingly took her daughters with her.
In 2008, Epstein pleaded guilty and was convicted of procuring a child for prostitution and of soliciting a prostitute. He was sentenced to 18 months in prison in June 2008, but was let out five months early on July 22, 2009. Under the terms of his release Epstein was required to register as a sex offender.
Less than a week later, while he was on house arrest, Fergie appears to have travelled to his home with her girls ‘in tow’. At the time, Princess Betarice and Princess Eugenie would have been 20 and 19 respectively.
The visit was recorded in an email Epstein sent to Ghislaine Maxwell on July 28, 2009. It read: “ferg and the two girls come [sic] yesterday”.
In a message dated July 27, 2009, Sarah says: “What address shall we come to. It will be myself, Beatrice and Eugenie. Are we having lunch?” According to the Telegraph, emails show the convicted paedophile served vegetable lasagne made by a Parisian chef at his Palm Beach mansion during the meeting.
A source close to Sarah previously insisted that neither she nor her daughters had any recollection of such a visit.
Celebrated release
Epstein referred to that same meeting in an email he reportedly sent to British lawyer Paul Tweed on April 7, 2011, in which he spoke of his anger at Sarah for not publicly defending him in an interview with the Evening Standard.
He wrote: “She was the first to celebrate my release with her two daughters in tow. She visited me with [a] policeman sitting at my front desk. She has asked for help with her charities.”
‘Marry me’
There are a number of effusive emails sent by Sarah to Epstein. In one exchange from 2009, the then-Duchess of York enthusiastically updates Epstein on potential opportunities for her business brands and books that have opened up.
She goes on to write: “In just one week, after your lunch, it seems the energy has lifted. I have never been more touched by a friends [sic] kindness than your compliment to me infront of my girls. Thank you Jeffrey for being the brother I have always wished for.”
The following year, another email from “Sarah” to Epstein is overflowing with affection. “You are a legend. I really don’t have the words to describe, my love, gratitude for your generosity and kindness,” she writes. “Xx I am at your service . Just marry me.”
Woman ‘with a great body’
It’s not the only mention of marriage. In September 2009, an email from Sarah appears to refer to the idea again – along with a mysterious reference to another woman. “You can marry her too. She is single and a great body,” she writes, before adding: “Ok well Marry me and then we will employ her.”
‘Love you’
The Epstein files reveal Ferguson emailed the sex offender, telling him “love you” while he was still serving time behind bars for soliciting sex from a minor.
As per the latest three million-strong tranche of documents, Sarah was in frequent communication with Epstein regarding her fledgling business just a month before his release. The sex offender had served 13 months of his 18-month sentence when she approached him for advice on how to kickstart Mothers Army – a business concept designed to “amplify the voices of mothers around the world “.
The correspondence begins with an email sent by Sarah on June 14, 2009, a little over a month before Epstein’s July 22 release. It reads: “I need to ask you how I start The Mothers Army company so it can be commercial, how do I do that? Can you help me?”
In a follow-up message sent June 26, Fergie revealed that she’d spoken to the “first lady” who had “loved the Mothers Army” before telling caged Epstein she would call him later. Ferguson wrote: “I am alive… yes I did go to the first lady and she loved the Mothers Army. I am going to call you later Love you”.
Pleas for work
Other messages seem to show a level of dependency on Epstein and a need for his approval. One email, sent in August 2010, reads: “I am feeling very traumatised and alone. I am wanting to work for you at organising your houses.” The next month she appears to ask “when are you going to employ me”, and later that same day “phew.. you still love me”.
In another text exchange in September 2011, Fergie seems upset that their friendship has cooled and she offers him congratulations on the apparent birth of a son. “You have disappeared. I did not even know you were having a baby. It was s00000 crystal clear to me that you were only friends with me to get to Andrew. And that really hurt me deeply. More than you will know,” she wrote.
It has never been publicly confirmed that Epstein had children. But if the revelations are accurate, the boy would now be a teenager.
Royal access
The emails also suggest Sarah was willing to facilitate access to some of the cream of British society. On 8 February 2010, the then-Prince Andrew’s private secretary Amanda Thirsk wrote to Epstein on behalf of Fergie, to invite him to Andrew’s 50th birthday party later that month at St James’s Palace in London. “It will be suits and cocktail dresses, and you know me, mysterious mischief, so bring your presents, your presence and your humour!”
Another email from Epstein to hedge fund manager Glenn Dubin in 2009 claims “fergie said she could organize tea in the buckingham palace apts.. or windsor castle” (sic).
Other emails appear to show Epstein trying to arrange a meeting between Beatrice and Eugenie, and his goddaughter Celina Dubin and her mother Eva – the wife of billionaire hedge fund manager Glenn Dubin.
On June 22, 2009, while he was still in prison but allowed to work at a nearby office, Epstein messaged Ms Ferguson and Mrs Dubin. He wrote: “My goddaughter will be in London from July 8-9, eva will be with her….lets [sic] come up with a fun idea”.
Money requests
In March 2011, Sarah admitted borrowing £15,000 from Epstein, and insisted that she’d made a “terrible, terrible error of judgment”. But the newly-released emails suggest that the former Duchess borrowed more money from the disgraced financier, and repeatedly turned to Epstein for help as her business ventures struggled.
In one message from 2009 she told him: “I urgently need £20,000 for rent today. The landlord has threatened to go to the newspapers if I don’t pay. Any brainwaves?” Account transactions further show that Epstein transferred $150,000 (£109,000) to Fergie following a share sale, wiring the cash to the former Duchess.
Sarah Ferguson has been approached for comment.
