All the royals who've been named in the Epstein files and what it actually means
It's been three days since the US Department of Justice released the final documents related to the crimes of Jeffrey Epstein - and one particular snap of Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor is still hitting international headlines.
Interestingly, however, the disgraced former prince isn't the only royal to receive a mention in the controversial collection of documents related to Epstein, who was charged with sex crimes in 2019 before taking his own life.
The long-awaited release of the criminal files was authorised following Congress' passing of the Epstein Files Transparency Act back in November.
"Today's release marks the end of a very comprehensive document identification and review process to ensure transparency to the American people and compliance," Deputy Attorney General Todd Blanche told press on Friday (30 Jan).
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Despite this, some House Democrats have claimed more documents should be released.
"Donald Trump and his Department of Justice have now made it clear that they intend to withhold roughly 50 percent of the Epstein files, while claiming to have fully complied with the law," US Representative Robert Garcia hit out: "This is outrageous and incredibly concerning.
"The oversight committee subpoena directs Pam Bondi to release all the files to the committee, while protecting survivors."
The vast dataset of documents is made up of flight logs, government IDs, employment info and emails, as well as over 180,000 images and 2,000 videos.
Many of the latter involved several A-list stars, including musicians, actors, financiers, businessmen, politicians and royals.
Prince Andrew
Long before Friday's release, the man formerly known as Prince Andrew has fought accusations over his ties to Epstein, who died by suicide in his cell in 2019 while awaiting trial for sex crimes.
Virginia Giufffe previously accused the royal of sexually assaulting her on several occasions when she was a minor, after being trafficked by the late media mogul and his associate Ghislaine Maxwell.
The monarchy later paid Giuffre - who took her own life last April - for the dismissal of her civil sexual assault claim in 2022.
Despite this, after her harrowing memoir - which detailed the alleged abuse she endured as a teenager - was posthumously released last year, Andrew's brother King Charles III stripped him of his remaining royal titles - including both 'Prince', and 'Duke of York'.
Andrew was also ordered to leave Royal Lodge, where he and ex-wife Sarah Ferguson have resided since 2004.
Andrew was mentioned hundreds of times in the release of emails sent both to and from Epstein - and on Friday, a photo was made public of the father-of-two crouched on all fours over an unidentified woman. The former duke is seen in the undated snap touching the woman’s abdomen.
Another document, an email exchange between Epstein and a contact who signs off as 'A' and 'HRH The Duke of York', hears the latter discuss meeting with a 'beautiful' Russian woman.
The same sender also invites Epstein to Buckingham Palace in 2010 - two years after the paedophile was convicted of soliciting a minor for prostitution, for which he served 13 months.
Emails sent from Epstein's associate Ghislaine Maxwell to 'The Invisible Man', also agreed that 'Andrew' should choose to spend time with 'Sarah and the kids' in a Spanish resort instead of visiting 'the Island', where '5 stunning red heads' would be residing.
Andrew denies all allegations of wrongdoing.
Sarah Ferguson
The former Duke's ex-wife Sarah Ferguson was also mentioned in the criminal documents on multiple occasions.
The latest release includes a request from Epstein to publicist Mike Sitrick in March 2011, to 'draft a statement that in an ideal world Fergie would put out'. In the days prior, the former duchess - who also had her royal title stripped recently - told the Evening Standard she had 'deep regret' over her Epstein ties.
"I abhor paedophilia and any sexual abuse of children," Ferguson claimed at the time, simultaneously apologising for accepting £15,000 from Epstein.
An email came to light last year, however - also sent to Epstein in 2011 - hears the mother-of-two referring to the American as 'my dear, dear friend'.
Ferguson's spokesperson later told press the message had been sent as a counter to a defamation threat by Epstein. They added that she 'spoke of her regret about her association with Epstein many years ago, and as they have always been, her first thoughts are with his victims'.
"Like many people, she was taken in by his lies," the 2025 statement added. "As soon as she was aware of the extent of the allegations against him, she not only cut off contact but condemned him publicly, to the extent that he then threatened to sue her for defamation for associating him with paedophilia.
"She does not resile from anything she said then. This email was sent in the context of advice the Duchess was given to try to assuage Epstein and his threats."
Beatrice and Eugenie
Though Andrew and Sarah's two daughters, Princesses Beatrice and Eugenie are not mentioned in the Epstein files in a criminal capacity - having only been teenagers when the abuse took place - they are referenced peripherally.
In one instance, the pair's father sends a number of photographs of them to Epstein between 2011 and 2012 (after the latter's prostitution charge), including Christmas cards that show the young princesses celebrating in the snow.
Another showed Beatrice climbing Mont Blanc, and a third, Eugenie on a charity bike ride.
The sisters were also mentioned in an email sent from Ferguson in 2010, in which she appears to invite Epstein to Andew's 50th birthday party at St James's Palace, which read: "Beatrice, Eugenie and I would love to invite you….".
The same year, in another email, Epstein asked the mother-of-two if there was 'any chance of your daughters saying hello' to an unnamed person during an upcoming London event, to which she replies: "Beatrice is in London with her father. Eugie is away with a cool boyfriend."
Despite their parents' joint fall from grace, the sisters have been granted permission to retain the 'Princess' titles they were handed them at birth.
Mette-Marit, crown princess of Norway
Despite escaping previous releases unscathed, the crown princess of Norway has come under fire this week after her extensive relationship with Epstein was exposed on Friday in new files.
According to the Norwegian daily VG, Mette-Marit is mentioned over 1,000 times in the latest drop, which imply that she and the abuser were in contact between 2011 and 2014 - long after his initial conviction.
In one email, the Princess told Epstein, 'You tickle my brain'. In another, she called him 'soft-hearted', and in a third, 'such a sweetheart'.
In 2022, the 52-year-old asked a 'very charming' Epstein if it was 'inappropriate for a mother to suggest two naked women carrying a surfboard for my 15 yr old sons wallpaper'.
Addressing the controversy, she told press in an official royal statement on Saturday (31 Jan): "I showed poor judgment and I deeply regret having had any contact with Epstein. It is simply embarrassing."
She added that her 'deep sympathy and solidarity' lie with Epstein's victims, admitting responsibility 'for not having checked Epstein’s background more closely and not understanding quickly enough what kind of person he was'.
Queen Camilla
King Charles III's wife was also mentioned in the federal documentation a total of nine times.
Despite this, authorities have no reason to believe this indicates that Camilla bore a personal connection to Epstein in any capacity.
It's likely the 78-year-old was referenced in articles that Epstein forwarded to his associates, that her name was mentioned in emails sent by or to the disgraced businessman, or that Camilla appeared in third-party correspondence or reference lists.
Princess Diana
The late Princess of Wales is also referenced in the documentation in a similar capacity to Camilla.
Diana - who died after her intoxicated chauffeur crashed into the walls of the Pont de l'Alma tunnel in 1997 whilst speeding away from paparazzi - is mentioned a total of 14 times.
Again, however, this does not by itself prove that the mother-of-two ever had contact with Epstein, or was involved in anything untoward.
In fact, other than what appears to be an unpublished newspaper profile piece in the Epstein files, with the author claiming they'd observed Epstein sitting 'with his arm around Princess Diana' at a 1994 London dinner, there's no viable proof they ever met
Ghislaine Maxwell is also said to have suggested in federal interviews that Epstein had met Diana at a particular London event, though she admitted to not being sure whether the two actually sat together.
Topics: Royal Family, Celebrity, US News, UK News, Politics, Jeffrey Epstein, Crime
Rhianna Benson