Marie Claire Marie Claire
  • Celebrity
  • Fashion
  • Beauty
  • Culture
  • Power
  • Nice Talk
  • Style At Large
  • More
    • Politics
    • Career & Money
    • Health & Fitness
    • Power Play
    • Travel
    • Promo Codes
    • Food & Cocktails
    • About Us
    • Subscribe
    • Sex & Love
  • Newsletter SIGN UP TO OUR NEWSLETTER
  • Marie Claire
    Marie Claire Newsletter

    Celebrity news, beauty, fashion advice, and fascinating features, delivered straight to your inbox!


    By submitting your information you agree to the Terms & Conditions and Privacy Policy and are aged 16 or over.

    You are now subscribed

    Your newsletter sign-up was successful


    Want to add more newsletters?

    Marie Claire Daily

    Delivered daily

    Marie Claire Daily

    Get exclusive access to fashion and beauty trends, hot-off-the-press celebrity news, and more.

    Marie Claire Self Checkout

    Sent weekly on Saturday

    Marie Claire Self Checkout

    Exclusive access to expert shopping and styling advice from Nikki Ogunnaike, Marie Claire's editor-in-chief.

    Maire Claire Face Forward

    Once a week

    Maire Claire Face Forward

    Insider tips and recommendations for skin, hair, makeup, nails and more from Hannah Baxter, Marie Claire's beauty director.

    Livingetc

    Once a week

    Livingetc

    Your shortcut to the now and the next in contemporary home decoration, from designing a fashion-forward kitchen to decoding color schemes, and the latest interiors trends.

    Homes & Gardens

    Delivered Daily

    Homes & Gardens

    The ultimate interior design resource from the world's leading experts - discover inspiring decorating ideas, color scheming know-how, garden inspiration and shopping expertise.


    An account already exists for this email address, please log in.
    Trending
    • Coco Gauff's New Balances
    • Dyson
    • Postpartum Texts
    • Ayan Broomfield
    • Everyday Handbags
    1. Celebrity
    2. Royals

    Sarah Ferguson Thanked "Brother" Jeffrey Epstein for "Complimenting" Her "In Front Of" Her Daughters, Princess Beatrice and Princess Eugenie

    "I have never been more touched by a friend's kindness," the former Duchess of York wrote.

    Amy Mackelden's avatar
    By Amy Mackelden
    Published 31 January 2026 In News

    When you purchase through links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission. Here’s how it works.

    Sarah Ferguson wears a green dress and disgraced American financier Jeffrey Epstein and Donald Trump at the Mar-a-Lago estate, Palm Beach, Florida on February 22, 1997
    (Image credit: Davidoff Studios/Getty Images/Max Mumby/Indigo/Getty Images)
    • Facebook
    • X
    • Pinterest
    Share this article
    Join the conversation
    Follow us
    Add us as a preferred source on Google
    Subscribe to our newsletter

    A new batch of the Epstein files have been released, with Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor and Sarah Ferguson featuring prominently in the documents. Notably, Ferguson reportedly described Jeffrey Epstein—who was a registered sex offender at the time—as "the brother I have always wished for."

    As reported by the Daily Mail, emails between Epstein and Ferguson reveal just how intimate their friendship was, even following the disgraced financier's conviction. On August 3, 2009, the former Duchess of York allegedly wrote to Epstein, "In just [a] week, after your lunch, it seems the energy has lifted."

    She reportedly continued, "I have never been more touched by a friend's kindness than your compliment to me in front of my girls [Princess Beatrice and Princess Eugenie]." Ferguson further wrote, "Thank you Jeffrey for being the brother I have always wished for."

    Latest Videos FromMarie Claire
    Watch full video here:

    According to the outlet, Ferguson told Epstein in another email, "I am so proud of you," and called him "a legend."

    Sarah Ferguson wears a green dress and disgraced American financier Jeffrey Epstein and Donald Trump at the Mar-a-Lago estate, Palm Beach, Florida on February 22, 1997

    Jeffrey Epstein and Donald Trump at the Mar-a-Lago estate, Palm Beach, Florida on February 22, 1997.

    (Image credit: Davidoff Studios/Getty Images/Max Mumby/Indigo/Getty Images)

    Per the Daily Mail, additional documents reveal that Ferguson sent Epstein an invitation to the former Prince Andrew's 50th birthday party. "Beatrice, Eugenie, and I would love to invite you to celebrate the 50 years of Papa/Andrew," the message explained. "It will be on February 26th 2010...at St. James's Palace, London...It will be suits and cocktail dresses, and you know me, mysterious mischief, so bring your presents, your presence, and your humor!"

    You may like
    • Sarah Ferguson attending Ascot 2025 wearing a black and white polka dot dress with a wide-brim black hat, she has red hair Sarah Ferguson Moves Back to the U.K. After Epstein Files Scandal
    • Sarah Ferguson wearing a green dress standing in front of a maroon wall Sarah Ferguson Is “Looking at Her Options” For a Tell-All Interview
    • Princess Beatrice, Jack Brooksbank and Princess Eugenie walking to Peter Phillips and Harriet Sperling's wedding Beatrice and Eugenie Are Still in the Center of an "Unravelling Storm"

    Sarah Ferguson and Prince Andrew walking into church in black outfits

    Ferguson sent Epstein an invitation to the former Prince Andrew's 50th birthday party in 2010.

    (Image credit: Getty Images)

    Royal expert Ingrid Seward previously told the Sun, "I'm afraid every time Epstein's name is mentioned, Andrew is going to be mentioned alongside him, and that looks like a forever situation." Seward continued, "His association with Epstein has actually completely destroyed his life. And probably destroyed the life of his family."

    As evidenced by the latest release from the Epstein files, the connections between Ferguson, her ex-husband, and the convicted sex offender will seemingly continue.

    Marie Claire Newsletter

    Celebrity news, beauty, fashion advice, and fascinating features, delivered straight to your inbox!

    By submitting your information you agree to the Terms & Conditions and Privacy Policy and are aged 16 or over.
    Explore More
    sarah ferguson Prince Andrew Princess Beatrice Princess Eugenie parenting
    Amy Mackelden
    Amy Mackelden
    Social Links Navigation
    Weekend Editor

    Amy Mackelden is the weekend editor at Marie Claire, where she covers celebrity and royal family news. She was the weekend editor at Harper’s BAZAAR for three years, where she covered breaking celebrity and entertainment news, royal stories, fashion, beauty, and politics. Prior to that, she spent a year as the joint weekend editor for Marie Claire, ELLE, and Harper's BAZAAR, and two years as an entertainment writer at Bustle. Her additional bylines include Cosmopolitan, People, The Independent, HelloGiggles, Biography, Shondaland, Best Products, New Statesman, Heat, and The Guardian. Her work has been syndicated by publications including Town & Country, Good Housekeeping, Esquire, Delish, Oprah Daily, Country Living, and Women's Health. Her celebrity interviews include Jennifer Aniston, Jessica Chastain, the cast of Selling Sunset, Emma Thompson, Jessica Alba, and Penn Badgley. In 2015, she delivered an academic paper at Kimposium, the world's first Kardashian conference.

    Read more
    Sarah Ferguson attending Ascot 2025 wearing a black and white polka dot dress with a wide-brim black hat, she has red hair
    Royals Sarah Ferguson Moves Back to the U.K. After Epstein Files Scandal
    By Amy Mackelden
    Sarah Ferguson wearing a green dress standing in front of a maroon wall
    Royals Sarah Ferguson Is “Looking at Her Options” For a Tell-All Interview
    By Kristin Contino
     
     
    Sarah Ferguson smiling outside in a green and pink dress
    Royals Sarah Ferguson's Summer Hideaway Was Likely Funded by Her Late Ex-Boyfriend
    By Kristin Contino
    Princess Beatrice wearing black at Queen Elizabeth's funeral
    Royals Sarah Ferguson Misses Her Ex-Boyfriend's Funeral as She Remains in Hiding—But Princess Beatrice Attends Alone
    By Kristin Contino
     
     
    Latest in Royals
    Prince Harry, Prince William, Meghan Markle, and Kate Middleton join King Charles on Commonwealth Day on March 9, 2020.
    Royals King Charles Displays "A Unique Form of Watchful Attention"
    Princess Charlotte, Prince Louis, Prince George, Prince William, and Princess Kate in Scotland on August 1, 2026
    Royals Princess Kate and Prince William Aren't "Lazy"
     
     
    King Charles and King Harald of Norway on March 20, 2012 in Oslo, Norway
    Royals Two Royals Will Replace Charles at King Harald's Funeral
    Prince Harry, Duke of Sussex, has red hair and a short beard and wears a suit and tie and attends the Kyiv Security Forum, in Kyiv on April 23, 2026
    Royals Prince Harry "Used to Try and Escape" and "Disappear"
     
     
    Latest in News
    Amal Clooney Takes the Editor-Beloved Wedge Trend and a Sheer Snakeskin Skirt to Venice Film Festival
    Celebrity Style Amal Clooney Takes the Editor-Beloved Wedge Trend to Venice
    Prince Harry, Prince William, Meghan Markle, and Kate Middleton join King Charles on Commonwealth Day on March 9, 2020.
    Royals King Charles Displays "A Unique Form of Watchful Attention"
     
     
    Princess Charlotte, Prince Louis, Prince George, Prince William, and Princess Kate in Scotland on August 1, 2026
    Royals Princess Kate and Prince William Aren't "Lazy"
    King Charles and King Harald of Norway on March 20, 2012 in Oslo, Norway
    Royals Two Royals Will Replace Charles at King Harald's Funeral
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
    Marie Claire
    RSS
    • About us
    • Contact Future's experts
    • Contact us
    • Advertise Online
    • Newsletter
    • Terms and conditions
    • Privacy policy
    • Cookies policy
    • Careers
    Add as a preferred source on Google Add as a preferred source on Google

    Marie Claire is part of Future US Inc, an international media group and leading digital publisher. Visit our corporate site.

    © Future US, Inc. Full 7th Floor, 130 West 42nd Street, New York, NY 10036.