The former Duchess of York, Sarah Ferguson, has been identified in photographs contained within the trove of documents related to Jeffrey Epstein released by the US Department of Justice. The images were published online on Friday as part of a massive data dump following the Epstein Files Transparency Act.
Images and Emails Surface in Latest Release
Among thousands of pages of court records, footage, and images uploaded to the Department of Justice website, several photographs feature Sarah Ferguson. In one image, she is seen posing for a photograph with individuals on a street. In another, she appears deep in conversation with a woman while seated on a sofa.
In both pictures, she seems to be wearing the same outfit: a long purple coat over a black dress. It remains unclear whether the photographs were taken on the same occasion. The release of these images does not imply any wrongdoing on her part; simply being pictured or named in the files is not evidence of illegal activity.
Further documentation includes a 2011 email in which Ferguson reportedly referred to the disgraced financier as a 'supreme friend' and appeared to apologise for criticism levelled at him after his initial conviction for sex offences.
Royal Repercussions and Wider Fallout
The publication compounds an already difficult period for Ferguson and her ex-husband, Prince Andrew. Earlier this year, she lost her Duchess title after Andrew was stripped of his military affiliations and royal patronages following intense scrutiny over their associations with Epstein.
She has subsequently been dropped as an ambassador by several charities and was forced to withdraw the sale of an upcoming children's book. The couple are also being required to leave their home, Royal Lodge in Windsor, and are expected to relocate to a smaller property on the King's Sandringham Estate.
The files also contain images of other high-profile figures, including the late Michael Jackson and actor Kevin Spacey smiling alongside Epstein. A photograph of Ghislaine Maxwell outside 10 Downing Street and an image of Prince Andrew lying across a row of women at a black-tie event with Maxwell were also part of the release.
Legal Deadline Sparks Document Flood
The data publication came ahead of a legal deadline set by the Epstein Files Transparency Act, which was signed into law in November. The legislation ordered the full release of all unclassified materials concerning Epstein in the DOJ's possession within 30 days.
Deputy Attorney General Todd Blanche had indicated that 'several hundred thousand' documents would be released initially, with thousands more to follow in the coming weeks to protect the identities of victims. The website experienced an 'extremely high volume of search requests', forcing users into a virtual queue to access the files.
Jeffrey Epstein was found dead in his Manhattan jail cell in August 2019 while awaiting trial on sex trafficking charges. His death was ruled a suicide.
