Disgraced Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor invited one of Jeffrey Epstein's closest associates to visit him at his private home, US officials have been told. Sarah Kellen, Epstein's former personal assistant said to be second only to Ghislaine Maxwell in importance to his recruiting young women for him, claims she was personally invited to visit the former Duke of York in an intimate domestic setting.
Ms Kellen denies that she was an accomplice of the convicted sex offender, claiming in a congressional interview she was 'sexually and psychologically abused' by the late financier. Her testimony, made this month to US Representatives in a behind-closed-doors hearing, included her claim that Andrew had extended an invitation to Ms Kellen to visit him at either Royal Lodge in Windsor, the property he was evicted from in December, or Buckingham Palace.
Her evidence also touched on her dealings with Andrew's ex-wife, Sarah Ferguson, who is said to have regularly accepted Epstein's financial patronage. With Andrew under investigation by Thames Valley Police suspected of misconduct in a public office – and possible sex trafficking – it could make Ms Kellen an important witness in any future case.
Background of Sarah Kellen
Ms Kellen, 46, was Epstein's personal assistant for more than ten years, starting in 2001, and has been described as one of his top recruiters of young girls. She was named as one of the four potential co-conspirators in his so-called 'sweetheart plea deal' for having sex with children in 2008, under which he served just 13 months in a low-security prison.
For her part, Ms Kellen denies that she procured girls for Epstein, claiming in a congressional interview she was 'sexually and psychologically abused' by the late financier. Ms Kellen recently told a hearing in the US as part of the Oversight Committee’s ongoing investigation into Epstein’s sex trafficking operation that she was invited by Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor to one of his private residences.
Testimony Details
It's understood that Ms Kellen's testimony did not go into fine details about her dealings with Mountbatten-Windsor. As well as discussing the private invitation from Andrew, Ms Kellen also said that she could have arranged flights for Sarah Ferguson, his ex-wife, who has almost completely disappeared from public life since last December.
But the bulk of Ms Kellen's testimony was of a more harrowing and personal nature. Because the former aide told Congress that she was in fact a victim of Epstein herself – having been manipulated and repeatedly abused by the notorious paedophile tycoon.
Her period working closely with Epstein coincided with the most intense period of Andrew's friendship with Epstein, who hanged himself in 2019 while awaiting trial on child sex trafficking charges. Andrew claimed he broke off their friendship in 2010 but emails released by the US Department of Justice (DOJ) earlier this year showed that was not the case – precipitating his fall from grace and the loss of his homes and titles.
Emails released by the US DOJ in January showed that the former Duchess had waited just a few days before flying to see Epstein in 2009 after his release from prison.
Earlier Encounters
Ms Kellen did visit the UK in Epstein's plane, dubbed the 'Lolita Express', in 2002 after a trip to Africa with former US President Bill Clinton and actor Kevin Spacey. During this trip she is thought to have met Andrew, though it is unclear where exactly. Photos which emerged in 2020 showed Spacey and Ghislaine Maxwell, Epstein's 'madam', sitting on one of the thrones at Buckingham Palace.
According to a copy of her opening statement, Kellen said that she was appearing before Congress to 'dispel rumors and conspiracies, and to tell you the truth'. She insisted the idea that she was Epstein's 'lieutenant' was a 'gross misrepresentation'.
'I was a literal indentured slave,' Kellen said, adding that Maxwell, who is currently serving 20 years in jail for child sex trafficking, referred to her as a 'slave and minion'. 'I had zero power or authority, I was there only to serve and to submit,' Kellen said.
In her statement Kellen, a former Jehovah's Witness, said that she was lured into Epstein's world by a co-worker at a hotel in Hawaii, where she was working after getting married at 17 – and she fiercely denied being his accomplice and has never been accused of any crime. She called herself a 'perfect target' for Epstein as she was 21, away from her family and friends and with few prospects for her future.
She said: 'He groomed me, sexually and psychologically abused me, controlled me, manipulated me, dominated me, and gaslit me until I could no longer tell which thoughts were mine and which were his. It was like living with a permanent virtual reality headset on. I was reminded every day how powerful he was – how influential he was – and that to turn on him or disobey him would mean losing everything: my job, my home, everyone I knew in the world, even my life.'
Congressional Reaction
Speaking after Ms Kellen testified, James Comer, the Republican who chairs the committee, said that she gave them 'three names of people that were involved' with Epstein's abuse. He said: 'These were new names for us. Sarah Kellen has been very helpful. Of all the people we've interviewed thus far, this was by far the most substantive and productive interview we've had.'
The hearing was part of the Oversight Committee's ongoing investigation into Epstein's sex trafficking operation. Others who have given evidence include US Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick – who visited Epstein's island – and numerous victims of the paedophile.
Ongoing UK Investigation
This week the Thames Valley force said that its investigation does not just include Andrew allegedly passing sensitive UK government information to Epstein. The inquiry could include sexual misconduct and an alleged sexual encounter with another Epstein victim, whose US lawyer says was sent to him in 2010 at Royal Lodge.
Last week Brad Edwards, the US lawyer who represents the woman, said she would not talk to British police out of fear for her privacy. However, another woman now reportedly claims Andrew behaved inappropriately towards her in 2002 while he was at Royal Ascot. Andrew denies all wrongdoing.
