Royal Favours and Financial Ties: Epstein's Cozy Connections with Global Monarchies
The recent release of Justice Department documents has unveiled startling new evidence about Jeffrey Epstein's intricate web of relationships with royal families across the globe. These files reveal a pattern of financial favours, personal requests, and disturbing indifference to his criminal history among those in royal circles.
A Pattern of Transactional Relationships
Epstein strategically used his wealth and connections to cultivate relationships with individuals of immense power and status. The documents show he provided temporary apartments, arranged private jet travel, and hosted royals at his various properties. In return, these individuals often showered him with praise and made numerous requests for financial assistance and personal favours.
Royal historian Ed Owens observed that "Epstein was essentially using his personal financial means to buy influence with key figures." He noted that some royals allowed what began as business relationships to develop into friendships, explaining "That's exactly why they found Epstein such a useful friend — precisely because he earned their trust."
Norwegian Royal Connections
The documents reveal particularly close connections between Epstein and Norway's Crown Princess Mette-Marit. Email exchanges show the princess writing "I miss my crazy friend" even after Epstein's trafficking crimes were widely known. In one revealing exchange, Epstein mentioned meeting two Norwegian women aged 24 and 25, to which the princess responded from her official account.
Norwegian Prime Minister Jonas Gahr Store stated that the crown princess had "acknowledged that she has exercised poor judgment, and I agree with her." The princess herself released a statement expressing regret for not investigating Epstein's background more thoroughly and offering sympathy to his victims.
Saudi Royal Court Involvement
The newly released files expand Epstein's known connections to include members of the Saudi royal court. Text messages and emails between Epstein and Raafat Al-Sabbagh, an adviser to Saudi Arabia's royal court, show a warm relationship developing during 2016 and 2017.
Epstein offered to connect Al-Sabbagh with Silicon Valley contacts, sent holiday greetings during Ramadan and Eid, and provided advice on politics and business. The correspondence indicates Epstein received assistance from "royal protocol" during a November 2016 trip to Saudi Arabia and displayed a photograph of himself with Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman in his home.
British Royal Fallout Continues
In Britain, the royal family continues to deal with repercussions from Epstein's friendship with Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor, formerly Prince Andrew. The newly released documents include email correspondence between Epstein and Sarah Ferguson, the former Duchess of York, that continued after Epstein's 2008 conviction.
One 2009 email suggests Epstein paid for flights for Ferguson and her daughters from Heathrow to Miami. In a 2010 exchange, Ferguson called Epstein "a legend" and wrote "I really don't have the words to describe my love, gratitude for your generosity and kindness." The emails also reveal Epstein's hope that Ferguson would help improve his public image by releasing a statement asserting he was not a pedophile.
Revelations Undercut Previous Statements
The documents challenge previous public explanations about the extent of royal relationships with Epstein. Despite Ferguson's 2011 admission that Epstein helped pay her debts and her apology for her "terrible error of judgment," emails show continued communication months later.
Similarly, the Norwegian crown princess's emails suggest a closer relationship than previously reported, including discussions of shopping trips, book recommendations, and personal matters. These revelations are creating upheaval within royal families as relatives and officials race to distance themselves from those with uncomfortably close Epstein connections.
The documents paint a comprehensive picture of how Epstein leveraged his resources to build relationships across multiple royal households, with correspondents often appearing unbothered by his criminal reputation while benefiting from his generosity and connections.
