‘My crazy friend’: The Royals who stayed close to Epstein

By Michael D. Shear

LONDON — 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 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 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 Friday (Jan 30) 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.

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 Epstein’s other criminal activity.

“You r such a sweetheart,” said one 2012 email to 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 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 some members of the royal families allowed a businesslike relationship with 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 Epstein and the royals are full of suggestive references to his pursuit of younger women. In one email from 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”.

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 Donald Trump, former President Bill Clinton, Bill Gates, Elon Musk and many others. They all deny knowledge of 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 Epstein and Al-Sabbagh mostly date to 2016 and 2017 — the years when Crown Prince Mohammed was rising to power and seeking to build relationships in the United States.

Epstein appears to have maintained a warm relationship with 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, Al-Sabbagh asked for Epstein’s insight on Trump’s campaign for president.

Over several months in 2016, Epstein eagerly and repeatedly pressed Al-Sabbagh to meet his “boss”,  an apparent reference to the crown prince, who was visiting the United States at the time. When 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?!” Epstein’s assistant asked him, as she arranged his itinerary. Epstein displayed a photograph of himself with Crown Prince Mohammed in his home, although it is unclear when and where their meeting occurred.

From their correspondence, it seems clear that Al-Sabbagh was aware of Epstein’s reputation. In one message, 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,” Epstein replied.

The Saudi government’s Centre for International Communication, which handles queries from news organizations, did not respond to a request for comment, nor did Al-Sabbagh.

In Britain, the royal family has been dealing for years with the repercussions of 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 Mountbatten-Windsor crouching over a woman lying on a floor, Prime Minister Keir Starmer of Britain called for him to testify to Congress about Epstein.

The files also include newly revealed email correspondence between Epstein and Sarah Ferguson, Mountbatten-Windsor’s ex-wife and the one-time Duchess of York, after Epstein’s 2008 conviction for sex offences.

A 2009 email reveals that Epstein likely paid for flights for “the Duchess and the girls from Heathrow to Miami,” an apparent reference to travel for Ferguson and her daughters, Princess Eugenie and Princess Beatrice. In 2010, in another email exchange, 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 Epstein hoped the duchess would use her influence to help improve his public image. In one email, Epstein suggests that 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 Tuesday (3) 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 Epstein. 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 Monday (2) 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 Epstein’s victims had her “deep sympathy and solidarity”.

A spokesperson 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 Epstein came just days before her son by a prior marriage began standing trial in a rape case Tuesday.

–New York Times