‘My Crazy
Friend’: The Royals Who Stayed Close to Epstein
Emails,
texts, photos and videos show how Jeffrey Epstein, even after becoming a
convicted sex offender, burnished his ties to royal family members from several
countries and their advisers.
Michael
D. Shear
By
Michael D. Shear
Reporting
from London
Feb. 5,
2026, 12:01 a.m. ET
A British
ex-duchess called Jeffrey Epstein the “brother I always wished for.” Norway’s
future queen wrote “I miss my crazy friend” after his trafficking crimes were
well known. A Saudi royal court adviser exchanged crude and knowing messages
with Mr. Epstein.
“I am
sure you are opening so many legs there,” Raafat Al-Sabbagh, the adviser to
Saudi Arabia’s royal court, and a close associate of Crown Prince Mohammed bin
Salman, wrote to Mr. Epstein, who was at his home in Florida.
There is,
of course, a long and sordid history of royals behaving badly around the world.
But the
Epstein documents released on Friday by the Justice Department uncovered fresh
evidence of how some royal family members, and those in their orbit, repeatedly
shrugged off the convicted sex offender’s sleazy reputation as they plied him
with praise and made requests for money, gifts and attention.
Mr.
Epstein used his access to money and the procurement of girls and women to
build and burnish relationships with people of immense power, status and
wealth, and hundreds of the newly released texts, emails, photos and videos
show how he extended that coziness to royals and those close to them.
He
purported to pay off their debts, provided them temporary apartments, flew them
on private jets, and hosted them at his homes. In return, some of his royal and
royal-adjacent correspondents appeared unbothered by his 2008 criminal
conviction, though the newly released files do not prove that they knew of Mr.
Epstein’s other criminal activity..
“You r
such a sweetheart,” said one 2012 email to Mr. Epstein, apparently sent by
Crown Princess Mette-Marit of Norway.
In some
cases, the revelations are adding to the upheaval in the royal families, where
relatives and government officials are racing to distance themselves from those
who have had uncomfortably close contact with Mr. Epstein.
“You get
the impression that he was an extraordinarily transactional guy, purchasing
influence in high places,” said Ed Owens, a royal historian. “This was
essentially Epstein using his personal financial means to buy influence with
key figures.”
He said
that some members of the royal families allowed a businesslike relationship
with Mr. Epstein to become a friendship, adding: “That’s exactly why they found
Epstein such a useful friend — precisely because he earned their trust.”
The
communications between Mr. Epstein and the royals are full of suggestive
references to his pursuit of younger women. In one email from Mr. Epstein to
Norway’s crown princess he writes that he had met two Norwegians, ages 24 and
25. “i like oslo,” he said.
“The
girls are 24 & 25?” the princess apparently replied from an account named
H.K.H. Kronprinsessen, which means H.R.H. (Her Royal Highness) Crown Princess,
in Norwegian. “I like Oslo too.”
Prime
Minister Jonas Gahr Store said the crown princess had “acknowledged that she
has exercised poor judgment, and I agree with her.”
Mr.
Epstein’s connections to politicians and wealthy business executives have
generated scandalous headlines for years, both before and after he died by
suicide in prison in 2019, at age 66, while awaiting trial on federal
sex-trafficking charges. The long list of his former acquaintances includes
President Trump, former President Bill Clinton, Bill Gates, Elon Musk and many
others. They all deny knowledge of Mr. Epstein’s illegal activities.
The new
files expand that list to members of the Saudi royal court.
A flurry
of text messages and emails between Mr. Epstein and Mr. Al-Sabbagh mostly date
to 2016 and 2017 — the years when Prince Mohammed was rising to power and
seeking to build relationships in the United States.
Mr.
Epstein appears to have maintained a warm relationship with Mr. Al-Sabbagh,
offering to connect him to people in Silicon Valley and elsewhere. He sent
greetings on the Muslim holiday of Eid and in the holy month of Ramadan and
proffered advice to “your boss” on politics, business and oil markets. In turn,
Mr. Al-Sabbagh asked for Mr. Epstein’s insight on Donald Trump’s campaign for
president.
Over
several months in 2016, Mr. Epstein eagerly and repeatedly pressed Mr.
Al-Sabbagh to meet his “boss,” an apparent reference to Prince Mohammed, who
was visiting the United States at the time. When Mr. Epstein flew to Saudi
Arabia in November 2016 for a trip, he received assistance from “royal
protocol” — an arm of the government that handles logistics for visitors
meeting senior royals.
“Did you
need me to book the Four Season for you in Riyadh? Or is the king taking care
of it?!” Mr. Epstein’s assistant asked him, as she arranged his itinerary. Mr.
Epstein displayed a photograph of himself with Prince Mohammed in his home,
although it is unclear when and where their meeting occurred.
From
their correspondence, it seems clear that Mr. Al-Sabbagh was aware of Mr.
Epstein’s reputation. In one message, Mr. Al-Sabbagh shared a news article
about a “Russian beauty queen” who had gone to Dubai to “sell her virginity for
$13,000.”
“Finally
you send me something worthwhile,” Mr. Epstein replied.
The Saudi
government’s Center for International Communication, which handles queries from
news organizations, did not respond to a request for comment, nor did Mr.
Al-Sabbagh.
In
Britain, the royal family has been dealing for years with the repercussions of
Mr. Epstein’s friendship with Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor, formerly known as
Prince Andrew and the Duke of York. He was stripped of his titles in September
by his brother, King Charles III.
After
images were released this weekend showing Mr. Mountbatten-Windsor crouching
over a woman lying on a floor, Prime Minister Keir Starmer of Britain called
for him to testify to Congress about Mr. Epstein.
The files
also include newly revealed email correspondence between Mr. Epstein and Sarah
Ferguson, Mr. Mountbatten-Windsor’s ex-wife and the one-time Duchess of York,
after Mr. Epstein’s 2008 conviction for sex offenses.
A 2009
email reveals that Mr. Epstein likely paid for flights for “the Duchess and the
girls from Heathrow to Miami,” an apparent reference to travel for Ms. Ferguson
and her daughters, Princess Eugenie and Princess Beatrice. In 2010, in another
email exchange, Ms. Ferguson called him “a legend,” adding, “I really don’t
have the words to describe my love, gratitude for your generosity and kindness.
Xx I am at your service. Just marry me.”
The
emails not only document a close relationship but also suggest that Mr. Epstein
hoped the duchess would use her influence to help improve his public image. In
one email, Mr. Epstein suggests that Ms. Ferguson release a statement asserting
that he was “not a pedo.”
There is
no evidence that she did so.
Her
representatives did not respond to requests for comment this week. Her charity,
Sarah’s Trust, announced on Tuesday that it is closing down operations.
With some
royal families, as with other prominent people, the documents released undercut
previous public explanations about the extent of the relationships with Mr.
Epstein. Ms. Ferguson sent him email months after admitting in 2011 that he had
helped pay off her debts and apologizing for her “terrible error of judgment”
in “having anything to do with Jeffrey Epstein.”
The newly
released files also suggest that he and Princess Mette-Marit were closer than
previously reported. The emails that appear to be from the crown princess,
which are often signed “Mm” and “Mette m,” include discussions of shopping
trips, book recommendations, vacations, illnesses and obligations.
The
princess, who is set to become queen when her husband, Crown Prince Haakon,
ascends to the throne, said in a statement on Monday that she took
“responsibility for not having investigated Epstein’s background more
thoroughly” and that she regretted “having had any contact with Epstein.” She
said Mr. Epstein’s victims had her “deep sympathy and solidarity.”
A
spokeswoman for the Norwegian royal family declined to comment further.
The
latest revelations are unwelcome for a royal family that has already been
rocked by scandal. The release of the friendly emails between the crown
princess and Mr. Epstein came just days before her son by a prior marriage
began standing trial in a rape case on Tuesday.
Amelia
Nierenberg and Megan Specia contributed reporting
Michael
D. Shear is a senior Times correspondent covering British politics and culture,
and diplomacy around the world.
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