Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor's Repeated Requests to Epstein for Property Access
Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor, formerly known as Prince Andrew, has been revealed to have shamelessly pestered convicted paedophile Jeffrey Epstein for access to his multi-million-pound homes while Epstein was under house arrest following his imprisonment for child sex abuse. The then-Prince sent numerous gushing emails to the prolific sex offender, asking to utilise the disgraced financier's luxury apartments in Paris and New York City.
Emails Detail Persistent Demands for Accommodation
The embarrassing correspondence, released in the latest tranche of files by United States authorities, shows Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor even appeared to approach Epstein on behalf of his ex-wife, the former Duchess of York, Sarah Ferguson. The messages demonstrate that the former Duke of York, who has since been stripped of his royal titles due to his connections with Epstein, also took advantage of the billionaire's private chauffeurs and vehicles during his stays.
Remarkably, just six weeks after Epstein's release from serving a thirteen-month sentence for soliciting a child for prostitution in 2009, Andrew emailed him unexpectedly with the subject line 'Paris' requesting a complimentary three-night stay. Acknowledging that it had been 'far too long' since their last communication, Andrew engaged in small talk before writing: 'I have to go to Paris this coming weekend, 11th to 14th September, and I remember that you have an apartment in Paris and was just wondering if I might be allowed to use it for the weekend?'
He continued: 'This is a private weekend and I am already booked into a hotel but on the off chance that you would allow me to use your apartment it would be great from a number of perspectives.' Andrew then added: 'If this is either inappropriate or unavailable then I apologise for asking.'
Epstein's Accommodating Responses and Further Requests
The late sex offender, who was on house arrest at his Palm Beach, Florida mansion at the time, replied 'of course' and offered the royal use of his car and driver. An effusive Andrew responded saying: 'Dear J, Thank you so very much for your hospitality.' Merely months later in November 2009, Andrew emailed Epstein again, asking to use his Parisian apartment the following weekend.
'The reason for my email is not only to wish you a happy Thanksgiving but I have just had notification of a requirement to be in Paris during the weekend of 4th to 6th December. Please may I stay in your beautiful apartment again?' he wrote. He later sent another message to the paedophile thanking him for allowing him to stay at his 'wonderful apartment' in the French capital.
It remains unclear exactly how many times Andrew stayed at the red-panelled property on the exclusive Avenue Foch. This luxury apartment is where former Labour minister Peter Mandelson was photographed in his underwear and where dozens of clips showing Epstein receiving private dances from young women were recorded. However, there is no suggestion of any wrongdoing by the duke at this property.
Sarah Ferguson's Involvement and New York Connections
Additional emails reveal that his ex-wife Sarah Ferguson also utilised the sex offender's extensive property portfolio. In one email from February 2010, after receiving a birthday message from Epstein, Andrew responded with yet another request, this time from Ms Ferguson regarding Epstein's 21,000 square foot New York mansion.
Referring to 'S' – often used to represent Ms Ferguson in emails between the men – he writes: 'PS. S asks: can she stay in your wonderful home in New York this week?' The then-Prince Andrew also proceeded to stay at the forty-room, seven-storey property with Epstein for nine days later that year when the pair were famously photographed together in Central Park.
Epstein also appears to have arranged accommodation for Ms Ferguson during an earlier trip to New York. Writing on September 7, 2009, Epstein copied Ms Ferguson into an email to his staff stating: 'Please organize at least one apt for sarah ferguson, she might need one for staff as well.' Ms Ferguson also seemed to ask Epstein to accommodate her goddaughter Laura McGowan, then twenty-two, saying she 'needs a bed in New York' in 2010.
In another message later that year, allegedly from the former duchess, it reads: 'A bed in one of those apartments I stayed in? Just a thought..' Previously unearthed emails showed Ms Ferguson visited Epstein at his Palm Beach home just five days after his release from prison, bringing their daughters Beatrice and Eugenie with her.
Ongoing Fallout and Investigations
Last October, King Charles III stripped Andrew of all his remaining titles – despite the former Prince vehemently denying any wrongdoing – and forced him out of his Windsor home, Royal Lodge. These latest revelations will heap fresh humiliation on Andrew as calls for a thorough investigation into his activities intensify.
Buckingham Palace has stated it is 'ready to support' police in any investigation related to the former prince, while the King issued an unprecedented statement expressing his 'profound concern' at the mounting allegations against his brother. This development comes as detectives probe claims that Andrew leaked confidential data to Epstein during his tenure as the United Kingdom's trade envoy.
