Newly released correspondence from the US Justice Department includes emails that appear to show that Sarah Ferguson brought Princesses Beatrice and Eugenie to visit Jeffrey Epstein at his Palm Beach residence, five days after the convicted sex offender was released from custody in July 2009 and placed under house arrest.
The former Duchess of York travelled to see the financier after he had served almost 13 months of an 18-month sentence in Florida custody for soliciting a child for prostitution, according to the emails.
Both princesses were young adults at the time of the visit, with Eugenie aged 19 and Beatrice 20.
The emails do not allege wrongdoing by either princess.
Sarah Ferguson pictured with her daughters, Eugenie and Beatrice in 2022
| INSTAGRAM: PRINCESS EUGENIEThe correspondence forms part of approximately three million documents made public by American authorities on Friday, January 30, shedding fresh light on the relationship between Ferguson, her ex-husband Prince Andrew, and the late sex offender, with whom they maintained contact over several years.
The day following the visit, Epstein sent a message to his former girlfriend Ghislaine Maxwell, now serving a 20-year sentence for sex trafficking-related offences, stating: "ferg and the two girls come yesterday".
On 27 July 2009, Ferguson had written to Epstein asking: "What address shall we come to. It will be myself, Beatrice and Eugenie. Are we having lunch?"
The correspondence indicates that a Parisian chef prepared vegetable lasagne for the gathering at Epstein's Florida property.
Epstein died by suicide in 2019 while awaiting trial on sex trafficking cases | REUTERSIn a later email to British lawyer Paul Tweed dated April 2011, Epstein expressed irritation that Ferguson had not spoken publicly in his defence, writing: "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."
Beyond the Palm Beach visit, the emails reveal Epstein's attempts to facilitate social introductions for the royal sisters. While still incarcerated but permitted to work from a nearby office during daytime hours, he contacted both Ferguson and Eva Dubin, wife of billionaire hedge fund manager Glenn Dubin, in June 2009.
"My goddaughter will be in London from July 8-9, eva will be with her.lets come up with a fun idea," Epstein wrote, appearing to arrange a meeting between the princesses and his goddaughter Celina Dubin.
A subsequent message from Epstein to Ferguson noted: "Will you see them before they leave. Not urgent just curious they met beatrice and said she was terrific."
Andrew was seen today with a glum expression | REUTERSThe financier also organised New York accommodation for Ferguson, instructing in September 2009: "Please organize at least one apt for sarah ferguson, she might need one for staff as well."
Ferguson publicly acknowledged in March 2011 that she had borrowed £15,000 from Epstein, telling the Evening Standard it represented a "terrible, terrible error of judgment" and declaring "I abhor paedophilia".
The newly disclosed correspondence suggests she made repeated requests for financial assistance from the convicted offender as her business ventures faltered.
Princesses Beatrice and Eugenie appear to have been mentioned in the Epstein Files | PAIn one 2009 message, she pleaded: "I urgently need £20,000 for rent today. The landlord has threatened to go to the newspapers if I don't pay. Any brainwaves?"
Despite his criminal conviction, Ferguson maintained contact with Epstein, writing in a 2010 email: "Just marry me." She described him as a "legend" and "the brother I have always wished for."
In September 2025, a spokesman for Ferguson said she had “spoken of her regret about her association with Epstein many years ago, and as they have always been, her first thoughts are with his victims.”