Belgian Prince Confirms Private Encounters with Disgraced Financier
Prince Laurent of Belgium has publicly acknowledged that he participated in two separate "one-on-one" meetings with the late convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein. The revelation comes after the prince's name surfaced within the extensive cache of documents recently unsealed by the United States Department of Justice as part of the ongoing investigation.
Details of the Royal Encounters
The 62-year-old younger brother of King Philippe clarified the nature of his interactions with Epstein in a statement to the Belga news agency. He stated that the encounters, which occurred at Epstein's specific request, took place decades apart—once in the early 1990s and again in the early 2000s.
Prince Laurent was keen to emphasise that he never met Epstein at any public or group gatherings, drawing a clear distinction between these private meetings and the social events associated with the financier's notorious circle. This clarification followed an earlier, broader statement from his office which had asserted he had "never, directly or indirectly, attended an event" with Epstein or his associates.
Context of the Initial Contact
Providing further context on Monday, the prince explained that Epstein first reached out to him during a period when Laurent was working as an intern at the United Nations and later at a bank in New York. According to his account, Epstein sought an introduction to the prince's royal parents, King Albert II and Queen Paola.
Laurent claims he refused this initial overture and subsequent requests. He was contacted again approximately a decade later with an invitation to a dinner in Paris that was to include "a head of state and wealthy and influential men." The prince maintains he also declined this invitation.
Broader Royal Connections in Epstein Files
Prince Laurent's disclosure is part of a wider pattern of high-profile names, including several European royals, appearing in the latest document release. He is not accused of any wrongdoing in connection with Epstein's crimes.
The files have also ensnared Norway's Crown Princess Mette-Marit, who was forced to issue a public apology after records revealed an extensive email correspondence with Epstein between 2011 and 2014. The documents show she was aware of his criminal past, having once written to him that she had "googled" him and "it didn't look too good," yet the contact continued.
Sarah Ferguson's Involvement Revealed
Furthermore, the documents shed new light on the relationship between Epstein and Sarah, the former Duchess of York. Emails indicate that Ferguson visited Epstein at his Palm Beach mansion in July 2009 with her daughters, Princess Beatrice and Princess Eugenie. This visit occurred just five days after Epstein was released from prison, where he had served a sentence for soliciting a minor for prostitution.
Epstein confirmed the meeting in an email to his then-partner Ghislaine Maxwell, writing "ferg and the two girls come [sic] yesterday." Correspondence also shows Epstein later expressed frustration that Ferguson did not publicly defend him following his conviction.
Timing and Repercussions
These disclosures arrive at a particularly sensitive moment for the Norwegian monarchy, as Crown Princess Mette-Marit's son, Marius Borg Høiby, faces serious criminal charges in court. The prince's admission in Belgium adds another layer to the complex and uncomfortable links between aristocratic circles and a convicted sex offender, prompting public scrutiny and demands for accountability across European royal households.
