Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor is not the sole member of a royal family who has been linked to convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein. In addition to the former Duke of York and his ex-wife, Sarah Ferguson, other royal families in Europe have had members mentioned in the Epstein files, including Sweden's Princess Sofia and Norway's Crown Princess Mette-Marit.
Princess Sofia of Sweden
© Michael Campanella/Getty ImagesYears before marrying King Carl XVI Gustaf and Queen Silvia's son, Prince Carl Philip, in 2015, a photo of Sofia was included in an email to Epstein. In the 2010 email with the subject line "our Sofia...," someone with the initials BE wrote to Epstein, "Here is a photo of our Sofia - you remember - i.e. soon Princess Sofia... the whole Swedish press is looking for her...while she is in Africa..!"
Another email to him the following year, seemingly referencing Sweden's Princess Sofia, included a PDF and read: "Here she is... almost princess Sofia... with her prince... arriving at my concluding luncheon for our Life Science Summit in Stockholm... they are pretty together! - Back in town!! Love to see you! kram BE."
Epstein was also informed in 2017 that Sofia had had a second son.
The Swedish Princess herself has addressed meeting Epstein on a "few occasions" in her twenties. As she arrived at the Ctrl + Rights Youth Summit in Stockholm on February 10, Sofia told members of the press, translated to English: "I met him in a couple of social settings. But now that I have read about all the horrific crimes he has subjected young women to, I am so grateful that I have had nothing to do with him since those few occasions in my twenties."
"My thoughts go out to all the victims of crime. I hope there is justice in this. We met at a restaurant in a social context when I was introduced and at a film screening. Thank goodness that was all," she continued.
Crown Princess Mette-Marit of Norway
© Rune Hellestad - Corbis/Getty ImagesNext door in Norway, Crown Princess Mette-Marit, wife of heir to the throne Crown Prince Haakon, exchanged messages with Epstein. The royal mom of three wrote to him in 2012: "You always make me smile because you tickle my brain." The Crown Princess also penned that Epstein was "very charming" and "such a sweetheart," while one email described Norway's future queen consort as "twisted" and "not a typical royalty".
The Crown Princess wrote to the already-registered sex offender in 2011, revealing: "Googled u after last email Agree didn't look too good : )." She also asked Epstein in 2012 if it was "inappropriate for a mother to suggest two naked women carrying a surfboard for" her then-15-year-old son's wallpaper. That same son, Marius Borg Høiby, was arrested multiple times in 2024 and is facing various charges, including rape.
The Crown Princess has previously acknowledged her association with Epstein, telling DN in 2019: "I would never have had anything to do with Epstein if I had been aware of the seriousness of his criminal acts. I should have investigated Epstein's past more closely, and I regret that I did not."
Since the U.S. Department of Justice published more than three million Epstein files this past January, Mette-Marit has once again expressed her regret. In a statement shared by the Royal House on February 6, she said, translated to English: "I would like to express my deepest regret for my friendship with Jeffrey Epstein. It is important for me to apologize to all of you that I have disappointed. Some of the content of the messages between Epstein and me does not represent the person I want to be. I also apologize for the situation that I have put the Royal Family in, especially the King and Queen."
The Norwegian Royal House additionally stated that the "Crown Princess strongly disavows Epstein's abuse and criminal acts. She is very sorry for not having understood early enough what kind of person he was. The Crown Princess wants to tell about what happened and explain herself in more detail. She cannot do that now. The Crown Princess is in a very demanding situation. She hopes for understanding that she needs time to gather herself".
In the wake of the latest batch of files, Sex og samfunn, Norway's largest specialist centre for sexual and reproductive health and rights, has ended its collaboration with the Crown Princess. According to NRK, the Norwegian Council for Mental Health has also put its partnership with Mette on hold "until further notice."
Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor
© Karwai Tang/WireImageWhile organizations have distanced themselves from the Norwegian Crown Princess, the former Duke of York's past association with Epstein ultimately cost him his title and home. Following his 2019 interview with Newsnight, Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor, formerly Prince Andrew, announced that he would be stepping back from public duties.
"It has become clear to me over the last few days that the circumstances relating to my former association with Jeffrey Epstein has become a major disruption to my family's work and the valuable work going on in the many organisations and charities that I am proud to support," Andrew said in a statement days after the disastrous interview aired. "Therefore, I have asked Her Majesty if I may step back from public duties for the foreseeable future, and she has given her permission."
"I continue to unequivocally regret my ill-judged association with Jeffrey Epstein. His suicide has left many unanswered questions, particularly for his victims, and I deeply sympathise with everyone who has been affected and wants some form of closure. I can only hope that, in time, they will be able to rebuild their lives. Of course, I am willing to help any appropriate law enforcement agency with their investigations, if required," he added.
Andrew then gave up using his title and honors in 2025, ahead of the release of Epstein accuser Virginia Giuffre's memoir, Nobody's Girl: A Memoir of Surviving Abuse and Fighting for Justice - in which she alleged that she was forced to have sex three times with Queen Elizabeth's second son. He also "vigorously" once again denied the accusations against him. However less than two weeks later, King Charles initiated a formal process to remove his brother's style, titles and honours, and a formal notice to surrender the lease to his home, Royal Lodge, had also been served.
"These censures are deemed necessary, notwithstanding the fact that he continues to deny the allegations against him," the palace stated. "Their Majesties wish to make clear that their thoughts and utmost sympathies have been, and will remain with, the victims and survivors of any and all forms of abuse."
Sarah Ferguson
© Max Mumby/Indigo/Getty ImagesAndrew was not alone in his connection to Epstein, as his ex-wife Sarah Ferguson also had a friendship with him. She called Epstein, the "brother" she always wished for, "a legend" in 2010, writing: "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."
According to the sex offender, Sarah once "said she could organize tea in the buckingham palace apts.. or windsor castle." Epstein also asked her in 2010 if she or one of her daughters could show Buckingham. Sarah seemingly once brought her girls, Princess Eugenie and Princess Beatrice, to see Epstein in July of 2009 while they were in Florida, and in 2011, she wrote to Epstein about her younger daughter's intimate love life.
Sarah publicly vowed in 2011 to never have anything to do with Epstein again. "I personally, on behalf of myself, deeply regret that Jeffrey Epstein became involved in any way with me," she told the Evening Standard in an interview published in March of 2011. "I abhor paedophilia and any sexual abuse of children and know that this was a gigantic error of judgment on my behalf."
She added: "I am just so contrite I cannot say. Whenever I can I will repay the money and will have nothing ever to do with Jeffrey Epstein ever again."
However, in an email to Epstein in April of 2011, Sarah praised him as a "supreme friend." She penned: "I know you also feel hellaciously let down by me, from what you were either told or read, and I must humbly apologise to you and your heart for that. You have always been a steadfast, generous and supreme friend to me and my family. As you know I did absolutely not say the P. Word about you. But understand it was reported that I did. However, I am apologising to you today for not replying to your email, or reaching out to you when the tabloids were so vicious and horrendous."
Following the latest release of Epstein files, Sarah's charity, Sarah's Trust, announced that it would be closing "for the foreseeable future."
