Epstein helped former Prince Andrew pay off member of ex-wife’s staff, DoJ emails show

Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor, formerly known as Prince Andrew, took over from Jeffrey Epstein the handling of a $60,000 payment to a former member of his ex-wife’s staff to obscure the source of the money, files released by the US Department of Justice show.

The pair reached an agreement about handling of the payment in February 2011 after the News of the World — which was closed later that year — published pictures of Epstein and Mountbatten-Windsor walking in Central Park, New York, taken in December 2010.

The meeting was contentious because Epstein had already been convicted on charges of underage prostitution and served time in prison and under house arrest.

The files, part of a tranche of 3mn pages related to Epstein that were released by the DoJ on Friday, show that after the story appeared the two conferred on how to respond, with Mountbatten-Windsor writing: “It would seem we are in this together and will have to rise above it!”

The story accelerated discussions already under way about a commitment by Epstein to help Mountbatten-Windsor’s ex-wife Sarah Ferguson meet her debts to a former staff member, Johnny O’Sullivan. O’Sullivan is referred to only as “J” in many of the emails. Epstein expressed wariness about making the payment directly.

“I don’t trust him at all, and a payment from me at the moment if disclosed to the press would look like a pay-off for the little shit,” Epstein wrote.

Mountbatten-Windsor volunteered to make the payment but suggested it should come via lawyers.

“I assume it could come from any legal firm to protect?” he wrote.

Epstein wrote the payment should involve “nothing direct” and the former employee should have to sign “some form of general release” — a commitment not to bring further legal action.

While Mountbatten-Windsor’s role as a go-between has not previously been made public, Ferguson has previously apologised for relying on Epstein to pay O’Sullivan. It was not possible on Sunday to contact O’Sullivan.

The arrangement is one of many dealings recorded in the files after Epstein’s 2008 child prostitution conviction, which appears to contradict Mountbatten-Windsor’s account of the pair’s relationship after Epstein was found guilty of the offence.

Mountbatten-Windsor said in a BBC television interview in 2019 that the December 2010 meeting captured in the News of the World photograph was his last with Epstein before he severed all contact with him. He also said it was the only time they met after the disgraced financier’s 2008 conviction.

The files suggest the two in fact had maintained regular contact, discussing potential business deals and social meetings, including one where Epstein offered to bring three women to Buckingham Palace. Mountbatten-Windsor in late December 2010 referred to Epstein’s circle as “my US family”.

Epstein appears to have put Mountbatten-Windsor, who was stripped of all his titles last October, in touch with at least two women during 2010 in language suggesting they might be sexually interesting to him.

Epstein emailed Mountbatten-Windsor in August 2010 saying he had “a friend”, a 26-year-old identified only as “Irina”, with whom he thought the former prince would enjoy “having dinner”.

The exchange came shortly after Epstein’s release from house arrest following his imprisonment. Mountbatten-Windsor, signing as the Duke of York — his then title — wrote to him: “How are you? Good to be free?”

In June 2010, Epstein gave Mountbatten-Windsor contact details for another woman he described as a beautiful Russian.

The files also suggest that Epstein wrote to Mountbatten-Windsor during a visit to London in September, suggesting he come over to Buckingham Palace with some women. Mountbatten-Windsor replied “what time and how many?” — although it is not clear whether they actually met.

Speaking on Saturday, Sir Keir Starmer urged Mountbatten-Windsor to give evidence over Epstein’s crimes, saying he would be letting down victims if he did not.

Democrats in the US Congress have asked him to answer questions as part of a probe into Epstein’s activities.

The British Prime Minister said: “Epstein’s victims have to be the first priority . . . in terms of testifying I have always said anybody who has got information should be prepared to share that information in whatever form they are asked to do that.”

Mountbatten-Windsor has consistently denied any wrongdoing in his relationship with Epstein.

This story has been updated after publication to correct the details of Mountbatten-Windsor’s dealings with Jeffrey Epstein.