Sarah Ferguson's Emails Reveal Sustained Epstein Contact Post-Conviction
Newly disclosed emails have unveiled that Sarah Ferguson, the former wife of Prince Andrew, maintained communication with convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein following his release from jail after a 2008 conviction for soliciting a minor for prostitution. These documents, part of a substantial cache released by the US government in January, provide fresh insights into Epstein's relationships with prominent individuals after his imprisonment.
Affectionate Correspondence and Marriage Remark
According to reports from the Daily Mail, which first detailed the correspondence, the emails reveal both the tone of Ferguson's private messages to Epstein and her willingness to assist him during this period. One particularly striking email from 2010 includes a message where Ferguson told Epstein "just marry me". While the full context of this remark remains undisclosed in the released documents, it forms part of a broader pattern of warm and supportive language used by Ferguson in her correspondence.
In other emails from the same timeframe, Ferguson reportedly expressed gratitude for Epstein's generosity and described him in highly affectionate terms, despite his criminal conviction and the growing public scrutiny surrounding his activities.
Offers of Royal Privileges and Access
The released correspondence further suggests that Ferguson offered to help arrange privileged access to royal locations. In a June 2009 message, she told Epstein she could "organise anything" after he inquired about arranging a special experience in London for an associate.
Subsequent emails cited in reports indicate that Epstein later told others that Ferguson had suggested the possibility of organizing tea at Buckingham Palace apartments or Windsor Castle during visits to the United Kingdom. While the documents do not confirm whether such visits actually took place, they confirm that these offers were actively discussed between the two individuals.
Epstein is known to have visited several royal residences in the past, including Buckingham Palace, Sandringham, and Balmoral, during periods when he was associated with members of the British royal family.
Continued Association Despite Criminal Record
Epstein served time in jail and under house arrest after his 2008 conviction and was released in 2009. Despite this legal history, the emails suggest that Ferguson's contact with him continued into at least 2011, demonstrating a relationship that persisted well beyond what had been publicly acknowledged previously.
According to the documents, Epstein sought Ferguson's assistance in responding to allegations against him and encouraged her to issue statements defending his reputation. Draft statements were reportedly prepared with the help of a US publicist during this period.
After Ferguson gave a public interview in which she stated she "abhorred paedophilia", she later emailed Epstein to apologize, insisting she had not specifically called him a paedophile. A spokesman for Ferguson has previously indicated that some of these messages were intended to calm Epstein after he threatened legal action for defamation.
Broader Implications and Royal Connections
These disclosures add to the ongoing scrutiny of Epstein's connections with the British royal family and other high-profile figures following his release from incarceration. Epstein died in custody in 2019 while awaiting trial on federal sex trafficking charges. His former associate Ghislaine Maxwell is currently serving a lengthy prison sentence in the United States for her role in Epstein's activities.
Ferguson, who divorced Prince Andrew in 1996, has previously described her association with Epstein as a serious error of judgment. However, the newly released emails indicate that their relationship continued well beyond his conviction, prompting renewed public and media attention to these connections.
The email revelations provide significant documentation of how individuals maintained relationships with Epstein despite his criminal background, raising questions about the boundaries between personal associations and public accountability among elite circles.
