The Department of Justice released more than three million Epstein documents that include communications from accounts labeled “The Duke” and “The Invisible Man,” believed to reference former Prince Andrew and his ex-wife Sarah Ferguson. The emails suggest the pair maintained contact with Epstein shortly after he completed his house arrest in August 2010 and during Andrew’s December visit to the United States. Epstein had pleaded guilty in 2008 to soliciting a minor for prostitution, serving thirteen months in a jail work-release program before spending a year under house arrest.
The released files contain photographs showing Andrew crouching on all fours over an unidentified woman lying on the floor. The woman’s face is redacted in the images, which are undated and lack captions or location information. The photographs do not indicate any wrongdoing. One image appears to show Andrew with his hand on the woman’s abdomen as she lies on her back between his arms while looking toward the camera.
Shortly after Epstein’s house arrest ended in August 2010, Andrew exchanged emails with Epstein about a “beautiful” Russian woman. Epstein wrote that he had a friend Andrew might enjoy meeting for dinner. Andrew responded expressing enthusiasm and asking Epstein to provide his contact details to the woman. In subsequent correspondence, Epstein described her as twenty-six, Russian, clever, beautiful, and trustworthy. Andrew replied with surprise at the quick response and asked how Epstein was adjusting to being free.
In September 2010, emails between Epstein and Andrew discussing a London visit reveal the latter offered to host dinner at Buckingham Palace with privacy. Andrew stated he would be available from 4 p.m. and invited Epstein to bring anyone he wished. Records indicate Andrew appeared to attend a casual dinner party with Epstein in December 2010 during an unofficial private visit to New York. This gathering occurred months after Epstein’s release from prison, despite Andrew’s previous statements about ending their friendship during that same period.
On Christmas Eve 2010, Andrew sent Epstein an email offering an investment opportunity in Afghanistan, continuing contact after claiming to have severed their relationship. This correspondence contradicts Andrew’s earlier public assertions about when he terminated his association with the financier, raising questions about the timeline of their interactions.
Epstein attempted to secure a public statement from Sarah Ferguson denying he was a pedophile. In a March 2011 email to publicist Mike Sitrick, Epstein proposed that Ferguson declare she was not a pedophile and had been deceived by civil attorneys from Florida. This request came days after Ferguson told the Evening Standard she harbored deep regret about her Epstein association and abhorred child sexual abuse. When Sitrick suggested Ferguson needed to correct her position, Epstein expressed doubt she would comply and indicated they needed alternative strategies beyond relying on Ferguson and Hope.
The following month, Sarah emailed Epstein asserting she would not call him a pedophile and had acted to protect her brand reputation. Ferguson’s spokesperson stated she maintained her public condemnation of Epstein and that he had threatened defamation litigation against her for associating him with pedophilia. An August 2009 email suggests Ferguson and her daughters, Princesses Beatrice and Eugenie, met Epstein while he was under house arrest, with Ferguson referencing his kindness displayed in front of her daughters.
Epstein financially supported Ferguson, providing at least fifteen thousand pounds to help settle her debts, though some accounts suggest considerably larger sums. Ferguson’s emails also discuss her “Sarah Ferguson brand” and conversations with retailers about her business ventures during the period of her contact with Epstein.
Communications between an account named “The Invisible Man” and Ghislaine Maxwell in August 2002 demonstrate an affectionate relationship and familiar tone between them. Maxwell addressed the sender as Andrew and referenced his former wife, while previous messages from the account mentioned having a valet and being at Balmoral with the royal family. The sender, signing as “A,” indicated he might join his family in Sotogrande instead of accepting another offer. Maxwell responded warmly, saying she understood his preference to spend time with Sarah and the children. When confirming he would not attend, Maxwell joked that she and five other women would have to amuse themselves. The sender replied expressing anticipation of reconnecting with Maxwell and signed off with affectionate closings.
