A full timeline of Fergie and Jeffrey Epstein’s relationship
The extent of Sarah Ferguson’s friendship and admiration for Jeffrey Epstein was one of the most important issues that emerged with the publication of the last part of the Epstein files.
In recent years, the late Duchess of York’s ex-husband Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor has come under extreme scrutiny for his friendship with the disgraced financier.
But new emails released by the US Department of Justice (DoJ) reveal some of the embarrassing messages between Ms Ferguson and Epstein. In one email, he told Epstein he was “the brother I always wished for” and later said he needed £20,000 for rent following the collapse of his business venture.
In others, the convicted sex trafficker claimed he wanted help clearing Ms. Ferguson’s name. Being in the Epstein files does not imply guilt or wrongdoing.
Here’s what we know about the duo’s relationship.
early friendship
It is not clear exactly when Ms. Ferguson and Epstein first met. Her ex-husband Andrew reportedly first met the financier in 1999 through his mutual partner Ghislaine Maxwell.
Andrew and Mrs Ferguson separated in 1992 and divorced in 1996. Despite this, the two remained close, living together at the Royal Lodge and co-parenting daughters Beatrice and Eugenie.
Although Andrew was photographed with Epstein several times in the late nineties and early 2000s, Ms. Ferguson’s initial relationship with him was rather murky.
The couple reportedly attended Andrew’s 40th birthday party hosted by the late Queen at Windsor Castle in 2000.
July 2006 – Princess Beatrice’s 18th Birthday
In July 2006, Epstein and Ghislaine Maxwell were among 500 guests invited to Princess Beatrice’s lavish 18th birthday celebrations at Windsor Castle, which were attended by Andrew and Ms Ferguson.
Last month, Epstein was charged with one count of solicitation of prostitution.
Again, the extent of communication between Epstein and Ms. Ferguson at the event is unclear.
In a Newsnight interview in 2019, Andrew said he had been invited through Ms Maxwell as Epstein’s plus-one, but was unaware of “what was going on in the United States” at the time the invitation was sent.
June 2009 – Ms Ferguson asks Epstein for business advice while in prison
New documents released by the Department of Justice allege that Ms. Ferguson emailed Mr. Epstein for business advice while he was in prison for soliciting sex from a minor.
In the email, Ms. Ferguson appeared to ask Mr. Epstein to help her launch her business, Army of Moms.
According to the BBC, in the e-mail dated June 14, 2009, from an address named “Sarah”, it is said: “For commercial purposes, I need to ask you how I founded The Mothers Army company, how do I do this? Can you help me?”.
On June 26, 2009, “Sarah” wrote to Epstein: “I’m alive…yes I went to the First Lady and she loved Army of Moms. I’ll call you later. I love you”.
The business is described on its website as “dedicated to uniting women around the world as mothers to ensure the safety and security of children, women and girls in all aspects of life and work.”
July 2009 – Emails show Ms. Ferguson took her daughters to lunch with Epstein
Newly released emails suggest Ms Ferguson took her two daughters to lunch with Mr Epstein in July 2009, just days after he was released from prison for child sex offences.
On July 28, 2009, Epstein’s message to Ms Maxwell said: “ferg and two girls are coming [sic] Yesterday”.
It is not clear what was discussed at lunch.
Also in July 2009, an email from Epstein to hedge fund manager Glenn Dubin read: “Fergie said she could organize tea at the Buckingham Palace apartments or Windsor Castle” (sic).
August 2009 – ‘the brother I always wished for’
In August 2009, Ms Ferguson appears to have described Mr Epstein as “the brother I always wished for”. The then-Duchess of York briefed Epstein on potential opportunities for his trademarks and books.
“After lunch appears to increase energy in just one week,” he wrote.
“I’ve never been this impressed by any of my friends [sic] More kindness than the compliment you gave me in front of my daughters.
“Thank you, Jeffrey, for being the brother I always wished for.”
Later that year, Epstein appears to have arranged accommodations on one of Ms. Ferguson’s trips to New York.
October 2009 – Ms Ferguson appears to be asking for money from Epstein
In late 2009, Ms Ferguson wrote to Mr Epstein: “I need 20,000 pounds ($27,521) in rent urgently today.
“The landlord threatened to go to the papers if I didn’t pay. Any brainwaves?”
An email exchange began between Epstein and a man named David Stern, who shared a copy of the ABC article questioning whether Ferguson’s finances were “compromised.”
Epstein suggests the leak could have come from “disgruntled investors,” and Ferguson confirms that an investor “violated a confidentiality agreement.”
Although the email chain appeared to end when he announced he needed money for rent, elsewhere an email from Epstein allegedly helped him financially for 15 years.
February 2010 – Epstein invited to Andrew’s 50th birthday party
Andrew’s private secretary Amanda Thirsk reportedly wrote to Epstein on behalf of Ms Ferguson in February 2010, inviting him to Andrew’s 50th birthday party at St James’s Palace in London.
It appears that Epstein disagreed.
March – July 2010 – Mentions of Eugenie
In an email from Epstein on March 21, 2010, to a redacted address, he wrote only “ny?” writes. (sic).
The reply, from a redacted address, reads: “I’m not sure yet. I’m just waiting for Eugenie to come back from a terrible weekend!!”.
In an email sent later in July of that year, Epstein asks if Beatrice and Eugenie were free to say hello in July 2010.
That same month, amid the cash-for-access scandal, Ms. Ferguson reportedly sent an email to Epstein calling him “my pillar.”
“I’m hanging out to dry 1000 percent right now, just as I predicted you’d see, the press will banish me,” he wrote.
“I’m completely on my own now. This is beyond scandalous and no one can do anything.”
March 2011 – ‘Massive error of judgment’
In an interview with Evening Standard In March 2011, Ms Ferguson admitted that her relationship with Epstein was a “colossal error of judgement”. It comes after it was revealed she had allowed Epstein to provide £15,000 to help pay off her debts.
Epstein was imprisoned in 2008 for soliciting prostitution from someone under the age of 18.
“I hate pedophilia and all forms of sexual abuse of children,” he said in the interview.
However, in an email thought to have been sent from Epstein to three people, including the journalist, in March 2011, he appears to have suggested that he was seeking help from Ms Ferguson to clear his name.
He said in emails: “I think Fergie can now say I’m not a pedo.”
He adds: “He was deceived into believing [sic] fake stories.”
The emails show that Epstein’s then-publisher, Mike Sitrick, had a strategy to “get the papers to stop calling you a pedophile,” and one of them was to get “Fergie to back off.”
Weeks after Ms. Ferguson gave the interview, emails released by the US were leaked. mail on sunday He maintained that he did not and “will not” call him “P” and that he acted “to protect my own brand.”
September 2011 – Proposal from a secret child
A message Ms Ferguson sent to Epstein congratulating the pedophile on giving birth to a “baby boy” after being released from prison in 2011 suggests she had a secret child. Telegram reported.
“I don’t know if you’re still here at BBM, but I heard you’re having a baby boy with Duke. Even though you’ve never stayed in touch, I’m still here with love, friendship, and congratulations on your son. Sarah xx,” he said in a message he sent 15 years ago.
It was never determined whether Epstein had children.
February 2026 – Sarah’s Trust charity closes after filing disclosures
A spokesman for Sarah’s Trust said on Monday evening that the charity would close in the near future.
They said: “Our chairman, Sarah Ferguson, and the trustees have agreed with regret that the charity will close shortly for the foreseeable future.
He added that the decision “has been discussed and has been on the agenda for several months.”
Sarah Ferguson’s representatives have been contacted for comment.
