Newly released messages from Jeffrey Epstein’s files show Sarah, Duchess of York, repeatedly seeking financial help and personal support from Epstein between 2009 and 2010. The correspondence includes direct requests to work for him or help with his properties, expressions of emotional vulnerability and references to her daughters being asked to meet Epstein’s acquaintances. Some emails date to June–July 2009, when Epstein was serving a jail sentence, and others to 2010; the documents were published by the US Department of Justice. The exchanges have prompted renewed scrutiny of Ferguson’s ties to Epstein even as being named in the files is not itself an allegation of criminal conduct.
Key takeaways
- Files released by the US Department of Justice include emails between Sarah Ferguson and Jeffrey Epstein dated around June–July 2009 and through 2010.
- One 2010 message reportedly has Ferguson describing herself as “very traumatised and alone” and offering to “work for you at organising your houses.”
- Messages show Epstein asking that one of Ferguson’s daughters meet an acquaintance at Buckingham Palace in March 2010; the apparent reply was an affirmative “Of course.”
- Epstein remained in federal custody until 22 July 2009 after serving 13 months of an 18-month sentence for soliciting a minor; some exchanges occurred while he was still serving that sentence.
- Private notes in the files describe Ferguson’s financial affairs as “incredible mess” and suggest associates were collecting financials on her behalf.
- Ferguson’s references to being abandoned by the press and the Palace appear repeatedly; she warned of being “hung out to dry” and feared public exile from royal life.
- Her former husband, Prince Andrew (Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor), has consistently denied wrongdoing; his office has been contacted for comment on the files’ release.
Background
Jeffrey Epstein, a financier whose activities and network drew global attention, left behind a trove of documents that US authorities later released to researchers and the public. Those files contain emails, notes and contact lists showing Epstein’s extensive social connections across industries and nations. Sarah Ferguson, the Duchess of York and former wife of Prince Andrew, previously endured public episodes of embarrassment and financial strain; her earlier public image often emphasized resilience and self-deprecating humor.
Ferguson has had ties to numerous wealthy and influential individuals over decades, and the newly disclosed messages add detail to one strand of those relationships. Because the Department of Justice release is document-based rather than an adjudication, presence in the files does not imply criminality. At the same time, the timing of some messages — including exchanges that overlap with Epstein’s July 2009 incarceration and his subsequent release — has raised questions about the nature and extent of their association.
Main event
The documents show multiple email exchanges in which Ferguson appears to ask Epstein for help, describe emotional distress, and suggest she could be employed to manage properties. In an August 2010 message she is reported to have written that she was “very traumatised and alone” and said she wanted to “work for you at organising your houses.” In the following month she reportedly asked, “when are you going to employ me,” and, later the same day, sent a message interpreted as relief: “phew.. you still love me.”
Other notes show Epstein requesting social introductions: a March 2010 message to “Ferg” asks whether one of her daughters could show a named contact around Buckingham Palace; the apparent reply from Sarah was, “Of course.” In July 2010 she apologised that her daughters were not available, explaining their whereabouts—one in France and one out with a friend—adding a light-hearted comment about not “cracking the whip” when abroad.
Material in the files also records Epstein’s associates discussing Ferguson’s finances, describing the process of obtaining her financial records as “painful” and an “incredible mess.” Those internal notes indicate some effort to assemble documents on her behalf, though they do not prove payments or formal arrangements. Separately, a jocular 2009 exchange includes Ferguson suggesting another woman could be married to Epstein, writing that the woman was “single and a great body,” an example of tone that mixes familiarity and levity.
Analysis & implications
The correspondence reframes public perception by highlighting apparent dependence on a powerful financier at a moment of personal and financial difficulty. For public figures like Ferguson, repeated solicitations for help from a controversial figure can deepen reputational risk irrespective of whether any unlawful activity occurred. Documents showing requests to work for Epstein or to introduce family members to his contacts underscore the tangled mix of social, financial and emotional ties that characterised some associations in Epstein’s orbit.
Politically and socially, the files reinforce questions about how elites manage crises and seek patronage. Ferguson’s language — describing being “hung out to dry” and fearing exile from royal life — illustrates how reputational anxiety can lead to sustained outreach to benefactors. That dynamic complicates public evaluation: sympathy for personal hardship coexists with legitimate scrutiny about the ethics of accepting assistance from someone later convicted of serious offences.
Legally, the documents do not change any established facts about Ferguson’s conduct. Presence in a document archive is distinct from evidence of criminal conduct. However, investigators, journalists and historians may use the materials to map networks and transactions, and further releases or corroborating records could prompt new inquiries. Internationally, the files contribute to broader examinations of how powerful individuals operated across borders and institutions.
Comparison & data
| Date (approx.) | Noted content |
|---|---|
| March 2010 | Epstein requests a daughter meet a contact at Buckingham Palace; apparent affirmative reply from Sarah. |
| June–July 2009 | Emails present from the period when Epstein was serving his 13-month term of an 18-month sentence; some exchanges predate his release (22 July 2009). |
| August–September 2010 | Ferguson reportedly describes being “very traumatised and alone” and asks about being employed to organise houses; later asks “when are you going to employ me.” |
The short table highlights sample timestamps and topics found in the release. While the file collection contains many items of varying provenance, the entries above are representative of the recurring themes: requests for work or help, social introductions involving family members, and expressions of emotional distress. The documents do not uniformly include complete headers, metadata or transaction records, which limits definitive reconstruction of payments or formal agreements.
Reactions & quotes
“Thank you Sarah, could you are one of your daughters show (redacted) buckingham thanks.”
Jeffrey Epstein (March 2010 email)
Context: This short request in the files illustrates Epstein seeking social access through Ferguson; an apparent reply from her was recorded as “Of course.”
“I am feeling very traumatised and alone. I am wanting to work for you at organising your houses.”
Apparent Sarah Ferguson (August 2010 email)
Context: The line is cited from an August 2010 message and is central to questions about Ferguson seeking employment or assistance from Epstein while expressing emotional vulnerability.
“Getting financials for fergie is painful. Incredible mess. I’m on it but for sure completeness will always remain questionable.”
Epstein associate (file note)
Context: Internal commentary in the files points to difficulties assembling Ferguson’s financial records; it does not document outcomes or payments.
Unconfirmed
- No publicly released document in the collection conclusively shows a payment from Epstein to Sarah Ferguson; financial transfers remain unverified in the files cited.
- It is not confirmed whether Epstein’s March 2010 visitor met Ferguson’s daughter in Buckingham Palace; the files show a request and an apparent affirmative reply but not a record of the meeting.
- The nature and terms of any proposed or informal employment for “organising houses” have not been documented beyond the email-language; formal agreements have not been produced in the release.
Bottom line
The newly disclosed emails portray repeated, sometimes urgent outreach from Sarah Ferguson to Jeffrey Epstein between 2009 and 2010, mixing requests for work or introductions with personal expressions of distress. These documents deepen public understanding of the social ties around Epstein but do not by themselves establish criminal conduct by Ferguson. They do, however, underscore reputational vulnerabilities for public figures who seek help from contentious patrons.
Going forward, the most consequential developments will come from corroborating records — bank transfers, contracts, or third-party confirmations — or from formal inquiries. For now the files add detail and context: they document outreach and emotional appeals, reveal someone struggling with publicity and finances, and supply leads that journalists and investigators may pursue to build a fuller picture.
Sources
- BBC News (journalism) — original report summarising emails from the Department of Justice release.
- U.S. Department of Justice (official) — repository and public docket related to Jeffrey Epstein materials and releases.