Sarah Ferguson Introduced Goddaughter to Epstein After Prison Release
Sarah Ferguson introduced her goddaughter to Jeffrey Epstein after his first prison sentence for soliciting prostitution from a child, according to newly released emails. The former Duchess of York provided the late sex offender with contact details for Poppy Cotterell, the daughter of her former lady-in-waiting, with the message "Over to you!"
Email Exchange Reveals Damning Details
Ferguson, 66, sent Epstein her goddaughter's information on November 12, 2010 - just 16 months after his release from a Florida prison. The email from "Sarah" was addressed to Epstein with the subject line "Poppy Cotterell's contact info" and concluded with "Lots of love."
Epstein subsequently arranged a meeting with the then 22-year-old Cotterell at his Manhattan home. His assistant confirmed the appointment via email: "Poppy Cotterell will come see you on Wed at 2:00 at the house." On the day of the meeting, another email simply stated: "Poppy Cotterell is here."
Job Offer and Charity Donation Discussed
Following their encounter, Epstein's assistant wrote about Cotterell's interest in being introduced to Dr. Merrell and his alternative medicine charity for children. The assistant added: "I have put Poppy and Carinda at Dr Merrell's office in touch with each other. Poppy is thrilled."
The emails reveal Epstein considered making a $100,000 donation in Cotterell's name to the children's health charity. Additionally, Epstein offered Cotterell employment, with a friend emailing him: "Hi Jeffrey, I gather you might be employing Poppy Cotterell." Epstein responded asking: "What do you know about Poppy... good choice? Not good?"
Cotterell's Response and Ferguson's Retreat
Poppy Cotterell, now 38 and working as a private psychotherapist and yoga teacher in London, told The Sun: "In 2010 at the age of 22, I was working in New York as an intern at an art gallery when I was introduced to Mr Epstein about a possible job looking after his art collection. After meeting Mr Epstein he offered me a role, which I declined. I never met him again."
She added: "I was not aware of Dr Woodson Merrell’s charity before I met Mr Epstein, did not request a donation to be made to it and do not know if a donation was ever made."
These revelations have increased pressure on Ferguson, who has been sheltering at the exclusive Paracelsus Recovery Clinic in Zurich, Switzerland, reportedly paying £13,000 per day. The former royal checked into the clinic as the Epstein scandal intensified, culminating in the arrest of her ex-husband Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor.
Previous Controversial Meetings with Epstein
This is not the first time Ferguson's relationship with Epstein has drawn criticism. Previously released emails show she took her daughters, Princesses Beatrice and Eugenie, to lunch with Epstein just five days after his release from prison for child sex crimes.
Other embarrassing correspondence reveals Ferguson begged Epstein for financial assistance with her debts, even asking him to employ her as his house assistant while he remained under house arrest in Florida. In one email, she issued a groveling apology for publicly denouncing him, claiming it was only to protect her career as a children's author.
Global Movement to Avoid Scrutiny
Following her stay at the Swiss clinic, Ferguson is believed to have traveled extensively to avoid public attention. Sources indicate she visited the French Alps and the United Arab Emirates, and has been "sofa-surfing on a global scale" by moving between locations every few days.
A source told The Mail on Sunday: "Sarah is sofa-surfing on a global scale by moving around every few days and deliberately not telling people where she has been staying until she's left the location. She is paranoid her location will be discovered so is moving frequently."
The former duchess is reportedly seeking new public relations representation as she plans her eventual return to the United Kingdom, though some friends remain skeptical about her ability to restart her life there following these damaging revelations.
