Jeffrey Epstein formed a close connection with Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor and his ex-wife Sarah Ferguson, but he may also have had his sights on their two daughters, files have shown.
The paedophile bragged to a friend that Andrew’s elder daughter, Princess Beatrice, liked him, in 2015 – years after he was convicted for soliciting sex with minors as young as 14.
Beatrice was thought to have advised Ferguson on how to placate Epstein back in 2011, after her mother labelled him a paedophile.
There is of yet no indication of wrongdoing by either of the two Princesses, however questions remain of what they may have known about their parents’ relationship with the financier.
The pair have also been seldom seen alongside the Prince and Princess of Wales, with some royal experts suggesting the sisters share little in common with either William or Kate.
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Beatrice’s sister Eugenie is also thought to be closer to William’s now State-side brother Prince Harry and his wife Meghan Markle, Daily Mail reported.
A source told the newspaper that while Beatrice and Eugenie both attend an annual garden party at Buckingham Palace with William, he is unlikely to want them to become working royals.
With Andrew’s royal titles stripped and more details emerging of Fergie’s closeness to Epstein, insiders believe attention may turn to what their daughters knew about their dealings with the sex offender.
The latest tranches of files show Ferguson’s association with Epstein, including asking him for advice about her business interests and even celebrating his release from jail in 2009.
The former Duchess of York allegedly took her two daughters to have lasagne with the billionaire less than a week after he walked free.
She also invited Epstein to attend St James’s Palace for some ‘mysterious mischief’ at Andrew’s 50th birthday party, which he declined.
Damning messages sent to Epstein by Ferguson include one saying she wanted to ‘marry’ him and praising the convicted sex offender for being the’brother I have always wished for’.
In one email she wrote: ‘You are a legend. I really don’t have the words to describe my love and gratitude for your generosity and kindness. Xx I am at your service. Just marry me.’
Ferguson maintained that her ties to Epstein were a ‘gigantic error of judgement’.
She said in an interview in 2011: ‘I personally, on behalf of myself, deeply regret that Jeffrey Epstein became involved in any way with me.
‘I abhor paedophilia and any sexual abuse of children and know that this was a gigantic error of judgment on my behalf. I am just so contrite I cannot say.’
Her ex-husband Andrew has similarly featured extensively in the files, including a picture which appears to show the disgraced former duke lying on his all fours over a woman sprawled on the floor.
It is unknown when or where the picture was taken or who took it.
Other documents show exchanges between Andrew and Epstein in which the former prince invited the billionaire financier to Buckingham Palace and discussed a ‘beautiful’ Russian girl.
Andrew had originally claimed to have severed all contact with Epstein after 2006, when an investigation was opened into the latter, and that he had only contacted the convicted sex offender to end their relationship.
Sources have suggested that Beatrice and Eugenie were both ‘mortified’ to learn the latest details about their parents’ dealings with Epstein.
‘We don’t believe the girls [Beatrice and Eugenie] were told much about what has just emerged [in the latest Epstein files release], and they will simply be aghast at just how close their parents were to this appalling man’, an insider said.
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