Andrew and Sarah Ferguson Face More Trouble Amid Newly Released Epstein Photos
History has a habit of haunting the present, and for Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor, reckoning arrived just as the holiday season took hold. On December 19, a massive archive of investigative evidence linked to disgraced financier Jeffrey Epstein was released by the Department of Justice, following a congressional mandate. Buried within tens of thousands of newly disclosed files were photographs showing the former Duke of York and his former wife, Sarah Ferguson, captured during moments long consigned to the shadows of royal controversy.
The disclosure followed an earlier release by Democrats on the House Oversight Committee a week prior, but this second wave was larger and more damaging for Mountbatten-Windsor. More than 95,000 images were made public, though many were heavily redacted and lacked dates or detailed context. Still, amid all the photographs, one stood out, featuring the former Prince wearing black formal attire reclined across the laps of five women whose faces were obscured. Standing above him in that image was Ghislaine Maxwell, Epstein’s longtime associate, smiling beside another woman whose identity was also redacted.
Other images released in the same tranche showed Ferguson as well, seated on a couch speaking with a woman, as well as posing with an unidentified individual outdoors. The Department of Justice confirmed the materials were drawn from evidence gathered during federal investigations into the disgraced financier prior to his death. Along with the former Duke and Duchess of York, other high-profile names tied to the newly disclosed files include former US President Bill Clinton, Kevin Spacey, Noam Chomsky, Richard Branson, Chris Tucker, Diana Ross, Mick Jagger, Michael Jackson, David Copperfield, and Walter Cronkite.
Earlier batches released from Epstein Estate materials also included photos of Mountbatten-Windsor alongside figures such as Donald Trump, Bill Gates, Woody Allen, Sergey Brin, and Steve Bannon. Beyond the public backlash, as per royal commentators, the images have taken a personal toll on the disgraced royal. Speaking to Fox News Digital, royal expert Ian Pelham Turner described the slow release of photographs as psychologically punishing for the 65-year-old. “Andrew is enduring an excruciating waiting game, unsure what revelations may emerge and fearful he'll be fed to the lions,” Turner told the outlet.
The expert also warned that each new disclosure risks compounding the damage. “Each revelation could be another nail in the coffin for the royal dynasty,” Turner said, suggesting that Mountbatten-Windsor and his former wife are attempting to project resilience while quietly bracing for further fallout.
Not just the former couple, but even the royal family is said to be preparing for what may come next. Broadcaster Helena Chard suggested that the family is preparing themselves for “an avalanche of new findings, further linking Andrew to Epstein.” She added, "Andrew is said to be stressed… Close family members are monitoring Andrew's mental health… Allegedly, Epstein made it his mission to document material on all high-profile contacts, hoping to launch smear campaigns." For King Charles, it has become yet another challenge, one that continues to test his ability to limit the damage caused to the monarchy by his brother.