Sarah Ferguson, the former wife of Prince Andrew, is facing renewed scrutiny over her ties to convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein, following the arrest of her ex-husband on Thursday. While Ferguson has yet to comment on Andrew's arrest, her own financial and personal connections to Epstein are coming under the spotlight, threatening her public standing.
Ferguson, known as Fergie, married Prince Andrew in 1986 and divorced him in 1996 after an alleged affair. She has stood by Andrew through allegations related to Epstein, previously calling him 'amazing' and rejecting claims against him. However, her own closeness to Epstein has been revealed in emails and financial records, showing she maintained contact with him even after his 2008 conviction for soliciting a minor.
Recent revelations include evidence that Epstein wired Ferguson $150,000 in 2001, which she claimed was for share options. Emails show she wrote to Epstein in 2009, 'Cannot wait to see you,' and later called him 'the brother I have always wished for.' In 2010, she emailed him to 'humbly apologise' for publicly denouncing him, calling him 'a supreme friend.' Ferguson later said she sent that email to 'assuage Epstein and his threats.'
Ferguson's financial troubles have been well documented. Days before Andrew's arrest, it emerged that six of her businesses are set to be struck off the Companies House register after becoming dormant. She has previously been involved in scandals, including a 2010 sting operation where she offered to sell access to Prince Andrew for £500,000, later apologising and citing financial stress.
The Epstein files have also raised questions about the funding of her daughters Beatrice and Eugenie's lifestyles, who were pictured on lavish holidays while working low-paid jobs. Ferguson's charities cut ties with her after the release of Epstein documents last year. As details continue to emerge, her reputation faces further damage.
