Sarah Ferguson Visited Jeffrey Epstein During Prison Sentence, Emails Expose
Sarah Ferguson, the former Duchess of York, visited convicted paedophile Jeffrey Epstein in Florida while he was still serving his jail sentence for a child sex offence, according to extraordinary emails uncovered in the vast Epstein Files. The Mail on Sunday has revealed that Ms Ferguson travelled to Palm Beach in April 2009 to meet with the financier at his office, where he was on day release from prison following his conviction for soliciting sex from a 14-year-old girl.
Details of the Controversial Meeting
At the time of the visit, Epstein had more than three months remaining of his prison sentence but was controversially permitted to leave the Palm Beach County Jail for up to 12 hours daily, six days a week, to work from his office under supervision by off-duty Sheriff's deputies. Despite his conviction for two sex offences, including one involving a child, Ms Ferguson inquired about seeing him during a stopover in Palm Beach.
On April 4, 2009, she sent an email to Epstein stating: 'Hello Jeffrey. I am landing in Palm Beach in a couple of hours. Is there any chance on my quick layover that I can get to have a quick cup of tea...' Epstein responded by providing the address of his West Palm Beach office, which he noted was 'ten minutes from the airport'.
Business Discussions and Aftermath
The meeting appears to have focused on Ms Ferguson's business venture, Mothers Army, with Epstein later emailing her to say 'you look great' and offering feedback: 'I read everything you gave me, too many pictures... not enough substance i.e. numbers'. He advised her on securing a £10 million sponsorship deal and suggested involving high-profile women like Michele Obama.
In response, Ms Ferguson thanked him, writing: 'My dear spectacular and special friend Jeffrey. You are a legend, and I am so proud of you... for being such a great friend.' This exchange occurred just one week after the visit, while Epstein was still incarcerated.
Further Attempts and Legal Scrutiny
Additional emails suggest Ms Ferguson attempted to visit Epstein again later in April, though it did not materialise. In May 2009, while he remained in prison, she emailed: 'I am coming into Palm Beach to see you on Wednesday I land at 9.30am. Can your brilliant [driver] pick me up, bring me to you, The Great one!! And then take me to Miami!??? Please with roses on top!' Epstein instructed his staff to 'please coordinate' the request, but it is unclear if the meeting took place.
Emails also indicate that during the April visit, Ms Ferguson walked past a Sheriff's deputy stationed at the front desk, as Epstein required monitoring while on day release. In 2011, amid growing press interest in Prince Andrew's dealings with Epstein, the paedophile emailed an unidentified contact, stating: 'If [the Daily Telegraph] call you, feel free to tell them that not Andrew but Fergie was both at the [Palm Beach] house and at the office with the police officer sitting at the front desk.'
Criticism and Calls for Accountability
Last night, Gloria Allred, a lawyer representing dozens of Epstein's victims, condemned Ms Ferguson, calling her a 'disgrace' for visiting Epstein in prison. She questioned: 'Why did she appear to go out of her way to visit Epstein as he was serving a sentence for a crime against a child? Did she think that her own personal financial situation was more important than a crime against a child?'
US Congressman Suhas Subramanyam, a member of the House Oversight Committee investigating Jeffrey Epstein, added: 'Sarah Ferguson clearly had a relationship with Jeffrey Epstein, just like her former husband Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor. She should tell our committee everything she knows. If she's done nothing wrong, it will help her to clear her name, and help us get justice for the victims.'
A spokesman for Ms Ferguson has declined to comment on the revelations.
